Pityriasis Versicolor is a superficial fungal infection of the skin. The disease causes rashes in the form of small patches. Sometimes many patches flow together and form larger areas. The disease does not infect and can be treated with a non-prescription drug.
Pityriasis Versicolor means roughly “mountain that changes color”.
Symptoms of Pityriasis Versicolor
Pityriasis Versicolor provides spots that are sharply delimited against healthy skin all around. The stains can float together to form larger areas. Most often there are spots on skin areas with a lot of sebaceous glands, such as the chest and back.
The fungus prevents skin pigments from forming. Therefore, the spots tend to be light or pale pink. The spots are more visible on darker or tanned skin. Many people, therefore, discover the spots in the summer. The spots can also be brownish and scaly.
When should I seek care?
You can contact a health center if you think you have pityriasis Versicolor. You can contact many receptions by logging in.
Treatment for Pityriasis Versicolor
You can get treatment for Pityriasis Versicolor with medicines that you use on the skin, for example in the form of shampoo or cream. The doctor tells you how to use the medicine.
Often, the spots are detected when the skin has been tanned. After the treatment, it will be a while before the stains disappear. The fungus is gone but the stains remain until they have been exposed to the sun.
What is the cause of the disease?
The fungus is found on the skin of most adults, but not everyone gets the rash. It is common for young adults to get an infection. Pityriasis Versicolor is most common in summer because the fungus thrives in heat and moisture, especially when the skin is oily with cream.
It is not clear why some people get rashes but not others. As with other types of fungal infections, some appear to have a skin that creates a favorable growth environment for the fungus.