Skin Conditions Flashcards
Tinea Versicolor
Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection of the skin. The fungus interferes with the normal pigmentation of the skin, resulting in small, discolored patches. These patches may be lighter or darker in color than the surrounding skin and most commonly affect the trunk and shoulders.
Tinea versicolor (TIN-ee-uh vur-si-KUL-ur) occurs most frequently in teens and young adults. Sun exposure may make tinea versicolor more apparent. Tinea versicolor, which is also called pityriasis versicolor, is not painful or contagious. But it can lead to emotional distress or self-consciousness.
Antifungal creams, lotions or shampoos can help treat tinea versicolor. But even after successful treatment, skin color may remain uneven for several weeks or months. Tinea versicolor often recurs, especially in warm, humid weather.
Symptoms
Tinea versicolor signs and symptoms include:
Patches of skin discoloration, usually on the back, chest, neck and upper arms, which may appear lighter or darker than usual Mild itching Scaling When to see a doctor See your doctor if:
Your skin doesn’t improve with self-care measures
The fungal infection returns
The patches cover large areas of your body
Causes
The fungus that causes tinea versicolor can be found on healthy skin. It only starts causing problems when the fungus overgrows. A number of factors may trigger this growth, including:
Hot, humid weather Oily skin Hormonal changes Weakened immune system Prevention To help prevent tinea versicolor from returning, your doctor can prescribe a skin or oral treatment that you use once or twice a month. You may need to use these just during warm and humid months. Preventive treatments include:
Selenium sulfide (Selsun) 2.5 percent lotion or shampoo
Ketoconazole (Ketoconazole, Nizoral, others) cream, gel or shampoo
Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox) tablets, capsules or oral solution
Fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets or oral solution
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches develop on the skin. Any location on the body can be affected, and most people with vitiligo have white patches on many areas.
Causes
The skin doesn’t have its characteristic color because it has lost its melanin. For some reason, the pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes have been destroyed.
We don’t know exactly why this happens. It might be an autoimmune condition, where your body’s defenses turn on your own cells instead of attacking invading germs.
Although vitiligo affects all races equally, it’s more noticeable in dark-skinned people.
Who Is Likely to Get It?
Up to 2% of the population and an estimated 2 to 5 million Americans have the condition. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman.
In most cases, it develops early in life, between ages 10 and 30. It will almost always show up before age 40.
Acanthosis
Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection of the skin. The fungus interferes with the normal pigmentation of the skin, resulting in small, discolored patches. These patches may be lighter or darker in color than the surrounding skin and most commonly affect the trunk and shoulders.
Tinea versicolor (TIN-ee-uh vur-si-KUL-ur) occurs most frequently in teens and young adults. Sun exposure may make tinea versicolor more apparent. Tinea versicolor, which is also called pityriasis versicolor, is not painful or contagious. But it can lead to emotional distress or self-consciousness.
Antifungal creams, lotions or shampoos can help treat tinea versicolor. But even after successful treatment, skin color may remain uneven for several weeks or months. Tinea versicolor often recurs, especially in warm, humid weather.
Symptoms
Tinea versicolor signs and symptoms include:
Patches of skin discoloration, usually on the back, chest, neck and upper arms, which may appear lighter or darker than usual Mild itching Scaling When to see a doctor See your doctor if:
Your skin doesn’t improve with self-care measures
The fungal infection returns
The patches cover large areas of your body
Causes
The fungus that causes tinea versicolor can be found on healthy skin. It only starts causing problems when the fungus overgrows. A number of factors may trigger this growth, including:
Hot, humid weather Oily skin Hormonal changes Weakened immune system Prevention To help prevent tinea versicolor from returning, your doctor can prescribe a skin or oral treatment that you use once or twice a month. You may need to use these just during warm and humid months. Preventive treatments include:
Selenium sulfide (Selsun) 2.5 percent lotion or shampoo
Ketoconazole (Ketoconazole, Nizoral, others) cream, gel or shampoo
Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox) tablets, capsules or oral solution
Fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets or oral solution
