Tinea Versicolor

What is Tinea Versicolor

Tinea Versicolor is caused by a non-dermatophyte dimorphic fungus that is a normal inhabitant of the skin. As the yeast from pityrosporum orbiculare, it generally does not cause disease. Tinea Versicolor is asymptomatic to mildly itchy macules that scale readily on scraping. Lesions, usually occur on the trunk, but may appear on upper arms, neck, face, and groin. KOH shows characteristic spores and hyphae. Fungal culture is not useful.

However in some individuals, it converts to the hyphal form and causes characteristic lesions. The expression of infection is promoted by heat and humidity. The typical lesions in Tinea Versicolor consists of oval scaly macules, papules and patches concentrated on the chest, shoulders, and back but only rarely on the face or distal extremities. On dark skin, they often appear rarely on the face and extremities.

Treatment of Tinea Versicolor

Solutions contaning sulfur, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide will clear the infection of Tinea Versicolor if used daily for a week and then intermittently thereafter.

Treatment with a 400-mg dose of ketaconazole is also effective in Tinea Versicolor.