Tinea Versicolor: tinea treatment versicolor, picture tinea versicolor

What are Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a mild, superficial Malassezia furfur infection of the skin (usually of the trunk). This yeast is a colonizer of all humans, which accounts for the high recurrence rate after treatment. It is not understood why some patients manifest the spore and hyphal form of the organism and the clinical disease. The eruption is often called to patients' attention by the fact that the involved areas will not tan, and the resulting hypopigmentation may be mistaken for vitiligo. A hyperpigmented form is not uncommon.

Tinea Versicoloris a rare skin disorder that is a localized (cutaneous) form of mastocytosis.Tinea Versicolormost often affects infants, with the first patches appearing at a few months of age.

In Tinea Versicolor, one can demonstrate the presence of mast cells by rubbing one of the brown patches. Within a few minutes, the rubbed area becomes reddened, swollen and itchy. This is known as Dariers sign, and confirms the presence of mastocytosis.

In Tinea Versicolor, the rash consists of reddish-brown spots that turn into hives when they are rubbed hard or scratched. Sometimes the spots will blister.

Tinea Versicolor Cause

Tinea Versicoloris one of several forms of mastocytosis, which is caused by excessive numbers of inflammatory cells (mast cells) in the skin. Here are the list of some causes:

excessive numbers of inflammatory cells (mast cells) in the skin
systemic mastocytosis (involvement in organs other than the skin)
headache
diarrhea
a rapid heartbeat
even fainting .

Tinea Versicolor Symptom

Lesions are asymptomatic, but a few patients note itching. The lesions are velvety, tan, pink, white, or brown macules that vary from 4–5 mm in diameter to large confluent areas (see photograph); (see photograph). The lesions initially do not look scaly, but scales may be readily obtained by scraping the area. Lesions may appear on the trunk, upper arms, neck, face, and groin. Here are the list of Tinea VersicolorSymptom

Diarrhea
Fast heart rate
Headache
Fainting

Tinea Versicolor Treatment

Topical treatments include selenium sulfide lotion, which may be applied from neck to waist daily and left on for 5–15 minutes for 7 days; this treatment is repeated weekly for a month and then monthly for maintenance. Ketoconazole shampoo lathered on the chest and back and left on for 5 minutes may also be used weekly for maintenance. One must stress to the patient that the raised and scaly aspects of the rash are being treated; the alterations in pigmentation may take months to fade or fill in. Tinver lotion (contains sodium thiosulfate) is effective. Irritation and odor are common complaints from patients. Relapses are common.

Sulfur-salicylic acid soap or shampoo (Sebulex) or zinc pyrithrone-containing shampoos used on a continuing basis may be effective prophylaxis.

Ketoconazole, 200 mg daily orally for 1 week or 400 mg as a single oral dose, results in short-term cure of 90% of cases. Patients should be instructed not to shower for 12–18 hours after taking ketoconazole, because it is delivered in sweat to the skin. The single dose may not work in more hot and humid areas, and more protracted therapy carries a small but finite risk of drug-induced hepatitis for a completely benign disease. Without maintenance therapy, recurrences will occur in over 80% of "cured" cases over the subsequent 2 years. Treatment with a single dose of 400 mg of oral fluconazole may result in fewer recurrences than ketoconazole.

Newer imidazole creams, solutions, and lotions are quite effective for localized areas but are too expensive for use over large areas such as the chest and back.

If you like this page, please post it on :

Our Most Popular Section

Information page on - Tinea Versicolor: Symptom, Cause, Treatment & Cure