Tinea versicolor - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Ringworm:

Tinea versicolor is a fungus infection that mainly affects the skin of young people. If anyone has oily skin, warm enough and moist enough, it starts to grow into small "colonies" on the surface of the skin. It is characterized by lighter or darker patches on the skin. It is neither a permanent nor a serious infection. Tinea versicolor mainly affects skin on the chest and back. It affects only the top layer of the skin. It is a non-contagious disease.

Causes

Tinea versicolor is caused by yeast which is a type of fungus. This fungus is present everywhere in the environment, including on the surface of your skin. Tinea versicolor occurs when the fungus becomes overgrown. A number of factors may trigger this growth, including:
Hot, humid weather
Excessive sweating
Oily skin
Hormonal changes
Cushing's disease
Pregnancy
Malnutrition
Removal of the adrenal gland
Burns
Steroid therapy
Suppressed immune system
Oral contraceptives

Symptoms

Symptoms of tinea versicolor are a rash of small circular or oval spots that may eventually form patches. The spots are flat and may be white, pink, red, tan, or brown. Itching, especially when you are hot. However, itching isn't always present. Other common characteristics of the rash include : -

Infection only on the top layers of the skin
The rash usually occurs on the trunk
The rash does not usually occur on the face
Patches worsen in the heat, humidity, or if your child is on steroid therapy or has a weakened immune system.

Treatment

Antifungal pills may be taken in a single dose or once a day for 5 to 10 days. Because the medication comes to the surface of your skin through sweat, you'll get the best results if it is not washed off too soon.
These medications include clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole. Scrapings of the skin may be sent to the laboratory to check for the fungus. More simply, shining an ultraviolet light onto the rash will make the patches fluoresce a yellow green colour (this is known as a Wood's Light test).

The skin may not regain its normal pigmentation for many months after the infection is gone. Tinea versicolor commonly comes back after successful treatment because the fungus that causes it normally lives on the skin. Therefore, many doctors recommend use shampoo monthly or every other month to prevent recurrences.

Alien writes for Woman health . He also writes for family health and you might be interested in vitamins and minerals information.