Pityriasis versicolor, the cause and treatment of which will be discussed later, is a common form of skin fungus. It appears mainly on the chest, shoulders, neck and back as random multicolored patches. They can be reddish, pink, coffee-colored, or almost white and cause mild itching and flaking of the skin at the affected area.
Pityriasis versicolor: cause of occurrence
What causes this type of skin disease is not known for certain. Yeast fungus of the genus Malassezia can be found on the skin of any person, but for some reason in some people it begins to grow intensively, affecting the skin in small spots, which eventually merge into large areas. Obviously, this is due to the predisposition of this organism to skin diseases or a general decrease in the immune background.
Who is striking and what does versicolor look like in a person
Pityriasis versicolor has been found to affect more people with excessive sweating, oily skin, and those living in warm, humid climates. It can worsen every summer, practically disappearing in the cold season. It is often referred to as "beach" lichen, implying that the skin lesions are especially visible on a tanned body. This is caused by the fungus being exposed to sunlight, which in turn releases chemicals that destroy the pigment cells (melanocytes) in a person's skin.
Is pityriasis versicolor contagious?
The cause of this disease led doctors to conclude that this skin disease is conditionally harmless. It is not due to poor hygiene and is not spread from person to person as 90% of people already have Malassezia on their skin.
Diagnosis
Pityriasis versicolor is diagnosed, the photo of which you can see here, by external signs and with the help of an ultraviolet light of a lamp known as a Wood's lamp. It helps to detect the typical yellow-green fluorescence of versicolor versicolor. In some cases, scrapings are done to check for yeast.
Treatment and prevention of recurrence of pityriasis versicolor
The disease in question can be treated with antifungal gels, shampoos, creams and tablets. Gels and shampoos should be left on the affected areas for 5-10 minutes and then washed off. This procedure is repeated every day for a week. Burning and slight itching during the use of these products is a normal reaction.
An antifungal cream is used to treat small areas. It is applied to the skin twice a day for several weeks. If shampoos and creams are not effective, the dermatologist prescribes special tablets. They are taken once a day for one to four weeks.
In general, the disease can be cured in a few months, but relapses are possible. To avoid them, it is necessary to periodically use the remedies mentioned above, especially in the summer, when the risk that pityriasis versicolor, the cause and symptoms of which have been considered, increases significantly.
Don't get sick!
