Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery & Laser Surgery

There is a Fungus Among Us: Tinea Versicolor

We all have yeast growing on our skin. When the yeast grows out of control a person can get a skin condition called Tinea Versicolor.  A yeast is a type of fungus so someone may be told they have a fungal infection of the skin. Tinea versicolor is not contagious since we all already have this yeast living on us. Tinea Versicolor is a very common skin condition, especially in tropical areas. Most people will notice that they have pink, white, or brown scaly patches on their chest and back. During the summer time the spots become more noticeable because the yeast does not allow the skin to tan. The rash can go away on its own when the weather becomes cooler and less humid.

Often we can just look at the rash and tell that it is tinea versicolor. We may also take a small scraping of skin and look at it under the microscope in order to see the yeast. Treatment options depends on several things. These include where the tinea versicolor appears on the body, how much of the skin is affected, how thick the spots have grown, and climate. Options include Anti-Fungal Creams, Anti-Funtal Cleansers, or Anti-Fungal Pills. While the fungus is easy to kill, the patient may have white spots that take a few months to return to normal color while their tan fades. If you are prone to getting tinea versicolor there are a few things you can do to prevent the breakout. You can wash your skin with a shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, like Selsum Blue. You also want to try to keep the area as dry as possible. Yeast thrives on warm and moist skin.

Here is Dr. Sandra Lee talking more about Tinea Versicolor on Studio11LA

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