Tinea Versicolor

A common but harmless rash, tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast that is a part of your normal skin flora. Usually this organism grows sparsely and does not lead to problems; however, in some individuals, it grows in excess and causes a rash with discoloration. 

Symptoms typically appear as small, scaling patches on the abdomen, chest, back, neck, or arms. In darker-skinned individuals, the patches often appear lighter than the surrounding, unaffected skin. The opposite is true for lighter-skinned individuals, where the lesions typically appear darker or otherwise discolored.

Tinea versicolor occurs more commonly during summer months when it is hot and humid, due to the moist and sweaty environment in which yeast often thrive. This rash is not contagious.

Treatment

• Moisture control – try to keep cool and stay dry. If you become sweaty, shower quickly after and dry off thoroughly.
• Oral antifungal medication:
  • Fluconazole 200 mg tablet weekly x 4 weeks for flares (Rx)
• Topical antifungal medication:
  • Ketoconazole cream or shampoo
  • Selenium sulfide shampoo (eg Selsun Blue)
  • Other OTC dandruff shampoos (eg Head & Shoulders, T-Gel)
  • Other prescription shampoos or creams

Other Tips

• For shampoo treatments, always leave on skin ~10 minutes prior to rinsing.
• During flares, topical treatments should be used daily until symptoms fully resolve. Once clear, maintenance treatment should be done once or twice weekly to prevent future recurrence.
• Please note that skin discoloration may persist slightly longer than other symptoms. This is due to a delay in your pigment cells’ ability to return to normal function.