Tinea Versicolor
Why do I have these spost all over my skin?
Tinea versicolor is a very common skin infection that can cause discoloration of the skin on those who are affected by it. It does not pose any health risk, it just doesn't look very nice. It is caused by a type of yeast organism that is living on our skin. If I told you that you have a fungal infection on your skin, it is because this yeast is a type of fungus. I most commonly see this on teenagers and young adults often on the trunk (back, chest, abdomen). It sometimes does extend to the neck, arms and legs and rarely the face, but it can be seen there at times. It is not contagious - this comes from an organism that we all have on our skin all the time.
You may first notice that your skin has a different color. It can look pink or tan, or if you have been in the sun it may look lighter than your natural skin color. This is because the infection prevents you from tanning when in the sun. In fact, for some, this is the first time you may notice it. If you have had this for a while it may cause itching and the skin may appear dry or flaky.
Some risk factors for developing tinea versicolor include hot weather, humidity and sweating.
It is easily treatable, but recurrences are high. Despite all our best treatments we can never entirely eradicate this yeast from our skin and when the right conditions are in place it will start growing again and the rash will re-appear.
- Topical antifungal creams: I always encourage the use of a topical cream to treat this infection. This is a superficial skin infection and treatment should always begin here.
- Oral antifungal pills: For very widespread infections or stubborn cases that do not go away with creams alone I may prescribe a pill. This pill will help to more rapidly reduce the number of yeast organisms on your skin. If you were prescribed pills for your rash make sure you take them exactly as you were directed.
- Dandruff shampoos: Yes, dandruff shampoos can be helpful. The yeast that causes this rash is very similar to what causes dandruff in our scalp. Using a dandruff shampoo such as Selsun Blue or Nizoral as a body wash a few times per week can help to reduce the growth of this organism and minimize recurrences.
After treatment your skin may remain discolored and blotchy looking. This will get better and go away, but it will likely take a few months at the very least. This phase does not require any treatment - only time. Of course, you should always apply suncreen of SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from further discoloration (and skin cancer too!).