The harm of tinea versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor is actually a fungal infection that occurs in many parts of the human body. But in fact, tinea versicolor is not a good sign. It may cause mild inflammation, and usually you won’t even know it. The course of pityriasis versicolor is usually slow. It can be treated with oral medication or ointment. Usually, you should pay attention to the cleanliness of your skin and be careful not to damage your skin, otherwise it may cause new infections.

Pityriasis versicolor, formerly known as tinea versicolor, commonly known as sweat stain, is a superficial fungal disease caused by Malassezia infecting the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The disease is chronic, with mild inflammation and usually no symptoms. The lesions are characterized by scattered or fused hypopigmented or hyperpigmented macules with bran-like desquamation, which often occur on the chest, back, upper arms, axillae, and sometimes on the face. Pityriasis versicolor is also more common in people who use corticosteroids, because these people have a prolonged epidermal cell replacement cycle, which is conducive to fungal growth. Pityriasis versicolor will improve if the hormones are discontinued. Patients with smaller areas or those who cannot take oral antifungal drugs for various reasons can be given 1% bifonazole cream/gel, 2% miconazole cream, 2% ketoconazole cream, and 2% econazole cream, all of which have good therapeutic effects.

The pathogen is a type of lipophilic yeast called Malassezia. This type of fungus is a saprophytic fungus of normal skin. Only under certain special circumstances, such as high temperature and climax, local fat and sweating, poor hygiene conditions, etc., the parasitic density of Pityrosporum increases and the saprophytic yeast is transformed into a hyphae type to cause disease. This bacterium only invades the superficial layer of the stratum corneum without causing an inflammatory reaction in the dermis. The disease is found throughout the world and is common in tropical and temperate regions with high relative humidity. Young people, especially young men, are more likely to develop pityriasis versicolor due to their frequent activities and excessive sweating. Pityriasis versicolor is also more common in people who use corticosteroids, because these people have a prolonged epidermal cell replacement cycle, which is conducive to fungal growth. Pityriasis versicolor will improve if the hormones are discontinued. In addition, physical weakness, malnutrition, diabetes and pregnancy can induce this disease.

According to its clinical manifestations, there are hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation in half of the chest, back, armpits, upper arms, etc., which are scattered or fused, with bran-like desquamation on it. The dandruff is directly smeared with 10% potassium hydroxide solution to find curved or arc-shaped hyphae or round spores. The diagnosis of this disease is not difficult. Sometimes the lesions fluoresce yellow under filtered ultraviolet light, which is more helpful for diagnosis.