Tineaversicolor, sometimes called Pityriasisversicolor, is a common fungal skin infection that causes small patches of skin to become scaly and discolored. It iscaused by the overgrowth of a fungus called Malassezia furfur (pityrosporum).
The overgrowth causesscaling and uneven skin color that may be mildly itchy and unsightly. The fungus is found on most people with normal skin, but some people under certain conditions are susceptible to an overgrowth of this fungus.
When the fungus grows, it produces a chemical that causes the skin to change its color. In darker skinned individuals, the spots may appear lighter than the surrounding skin and in fair skinned patients may appear pink or coppery brown. The rash tends to appear on theshoulders,upper back and chest, where the yeast thrives. It may also be seen on the limbs and face.
Tineaversicolor is more common in warm, humid climates and seems to be associated with excessive sweating. People with tineaversicolor may notice that it either comes back or worsens during hot and humid summer months.
Tineaversicolor can be diagnosed with a Wood’s Lamp that is a special blue light. At times the skin may also be scraped to obtain a specimen for examination under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment consists of antifungal medicines applied to the skin. In cases of severe or persistent tineaversicolor, oral antifungal agents can be recommended.
It can be is easily treated but pigment changes may last for months after treatment.
