Tinea versicolor
About Tinea versicolor
Tinea versicolor is a common fungal rash of the skin characterized by areas of hyper and hypo-pigmented skin (dark and light). It is caused by a yeast species called Mallesezia that normally lives on our skin. It most commonly affects the trunk, back, abdomen and extremities. Less commonly, it can affect the face, genitals or scalp. The rash occurs most commonly in teenagers and young adults. Some patients have a genetic predisposition for the rash and in those patients, the rash may reoccur chronically.Symptoms
A skin rash is made up of scattered red, pink and white patches. The patches are flat without texture. They may start as small patches and later form into larger patches. The rash may be itchy when the individual is hot or sweaty.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. The diagnosis is confirmed by scraping the rash and performing a KOH prep test.Common tests: KOH Test.
OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Antifungal creams such as Clotrimazole (Lotrimin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or econazole (Spectrazole) are the initial treatment of choice. Oral antifungal therapy with itraconazole, fluconazole or ketaconazole is effective and preferred by many patients because of convenience. Photodynamic therapy has been used successfully in some cases.Medical specialties
Internal Medicine · Dermatology · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Pediatric Dermatology
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Tinea versicolor.