Dear readers, I am pleased to announce the launch of my new blog, Your Skin, Your Health. My goal is to provide you with clear and concise information that you can use in your everyday life to help you make informed decisions about your skin health. I hope this blog will become a valuable resource for you by providing you with an opportunity to learn more about your skin and how it can be a window to your overall health.
The first series of posts will focus on common skin conditions that affect millions of people each year. In the first post, I will discuss tinea versicolor, a common skin condition that affects people of all races and ages.
Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection that primarily affects adolescents and young adults. It is caused by several different species of fungi called Malassezia or Pityrosporum species that are found on normal human skin. The fungi can overgrow in warm, moist areas such as the armpits, groin and neck folds. Tinea versicolor causes discolored patches on the skin that are lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. These patches are often scaly or flaky, but they do not itch or hurt. The color of the patches can range from light orange to
Tinea versicolor, a type of skin infection, is caused by a yeast that is part of the normal flora of the skin. It typically presents as small patches on the trunk that vary in color from light tan to brown. The lesions can be hypopigmented, meaning lighter than your normal skin tone, or hyperpigmented darker than your normal skin tone.
This yeast often colonizes the skin in warm humid climates. It can grow out of control in individuals who have weakened immune systems or who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. Tinea versicolor often worsens with sweating, sun exposure and use of greasy emollients.
The yeast Malassezia globosa often causes tinea versicolor. This yeast lives off fatty acids in the top layer of the skin. The fungi feeds off these fatty acids and produces oleic acid as a metabolic byproduct. This oleic acid is thought to inhibit melanin production resulting in white patches on the surface of the skin.
Having a white spot on your skin can be embarrassing, especially during summer when everyone wants to look their best. If you are noticing white spots on your skin that don’t appear to be going away, you may have tinea versicolor.
This condition is caused by a yeast infection of the skin and often occurs in people who have oily skin or live in warm and humid climates. The first sign of tinea versicolor is usually a small and slightly raised area of the skin that appears scaly, discolored, or slightly reddish. If these spots are not treated properly, they will continue to increase in size and spread. This can cover large areas of your body, most often on your torso or neck but also on your upper arms or legs. The spots will continue to grow until you treat them with medication.
Treatment for this fungal infection includes the use of antifungal creams and shampoos. You may feel itchy or uncomfortable while the fungus is present on your body, but it isn’t contagious so there is no need to worry about passing it along to others.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a new patient whose mother had just been diagnosed with skin cancer. A biopsy of a suspicious lesion on her back revealed an aggressive melanoma. My patient asked me if he should have his moles checked too. I was happy to take a look.
After examining him, I found several moles that needed to be removed and sent off for a biopsy. A few days later, the results came back negative for cancer. But in addition to the biopsies, one of the moles also needed to be cultured for a fungus called tinea versicolor.
Tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast known as Malassezia furfur (formerly known as Pityrosporum orbiculare). The yeast lives on everyone’s skin, but for reasons not entirely understood, it can overgrow on some people’s skin and cause an infection called tinea versicolor.
The condition is more common in hot and humid climates and affects about 2% of people in temperate regions like the United States. It is most common in young adults between the ages of 15-30 years old. People who live in tropical climates or have oily skin are at increased risk of developing this condition as
Tinea versicolor is a very common fungal infection of the skin, caused by yeast normally present on the skin. The yeast grows excessively in warm, moist environments and produces a pigment that causes discoloration of the skin. The infection is not contagious, but it is easily spread by direct contact with an affected person. This condition can be quite annoying and embarrassing, but it can also be treated effectively.
Tinea versicolor often appears as multiple small spots that are lighter than the surrounding skin. These spots may appear light tan, pink, or white and may have a scaly appearance. The spots may darken during the summer months, when the rest of your skin tans, making them more noticeable. Tinea versicolor can appear anywhere on your body but is most common on your neck, trunk, arms and legs. If you have this condition you will probably not notice any itching or discomfort except perhaps some mild scaling at times.
The diagnosis of tinea versicolor is usually made based on its appearance as well as other factors such as location on your body, usual exposure to warm environments and history of recurrence of the condition. In some cases a scraping from an affected area is taken and observed under a microscope for confirmation of the diagnosis
Tinea versicolor is a common skin condition that causes a discoloration of the skin. The condition is caused by a yeast that is naturally found on the skin surface. The yeast overgrows and causes discolored spots on the chest, back, upper arms, neck or face.
The spots can be clear, pink, red or brown. The spots may be itchy or not itchy. Tinea versicolor often gets worse in the summer when the weather is warm and humid.
Tinea versicolor can affect anyone, but it more commonly affects teens and young adults. It also occurs more often in hot climates.
A dermatologist can diagnose tinea versicolor by looking at your skin. Your dermatologist may take a scraping of your infected skin and look at it under a microscope to determine if you have an overgrowth of yeast.
In most cases, tinea versicolor can be treated successfully with antifungal creams or washes. For severe cases of tinea versicolor internal antifungal medications may be prescribed. Treatment usually works well and prevents the infection from returning.
Tinea versicolor is a common skin condition that is caused by a type of yeast that normally lives on the skin. Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, causes patches of skin to become lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. These patches may be dry and flaky or greasy. Some people experience itching with tinea versicolor.
Tinea versicolor usually affects young adults and adolescents, but it can affect people of any age. It is more common in warmer climates, but it can occur in cooler areas as well. The condition can recur many times and may last for months or years before disappearing spontaneously. Tinea versicolor occurs most often during warm weather because the yeast that causes this condition grows best in warm and humid environments.
Since tinea versicolor is not caused by a contagious organism, you cannot spread this condition to other people.