Tinea versicolor, also called pityriasis versicolor is caused by yeast, a fungus, on the skin that grows out of control. Everyone has yeast on their skin and many people develop tinea versicolor because of it. The beginning signs are spots on the skin. They could be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin or colored white, pink, red, tan, or brown. The spots can appear anywhere on the body as dry, scaly, itchy patches. The spots become more noticeable when the skin is tanned and might grow together covering a larger area. Spots are often faint and barely noticeable, they can also disappear as temperatures get warm and air is humid. Tinea versicolor is found in all skin colors. It’s prevalent in teens and young adults because their skin is more oily.
In treating tinea versicolor, Chelsea Skin & Laser would either send a sample to a lab for inspection under a microscope or view with a special instrument called a Wood’s Lamp. Treatment could include topical medication, medicated wash or oral anti-fungal medication. The fungus is easy to treat but can return seasonally.
