Tinea versicolor (also called pityriasis versicolor) is a fungal skin infection. It isn’t dangerous or contagious, but it can make some people feel self conscious and cause distress.
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Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that affects your skin. It’s caused by the fungus Malassezia, which already lives on the skin of most adults. Tinea versicolor happens when this fungus spreads more than usual, often due to exposure to hot weather or sweating, which leads to it interfering with your skin’s pigmentation.
Tinea versicolor is purely an aesthetic condition, so it doesn’t affect your health – just your appearance. It’s characterised by discoloured, scaly patches on your skin, and it’s sometimes confused with vitiligo – a similar looking skin condition. Some people find that it makes them feel self-conscious, or affects their body image, which can cause distress.
Who gets tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor can affect anyone, but you might have an increased risk of developing it if you’re in a warm environment, sweat excessively (sometimes known as the condition hyperhidrosis), wear tight clothing or have a weakened immune system.
It’s not contagious, so you can’t get it from someone else, or if you have it then you don’t have to worry about passing it on.
How common is tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is a common infection, but it can be seen more in warmer climates than in cold ones. It’s estimated to affect up to 50% of people in hotter areas, and as few as 1.1% in colder ones. It’s also more common in teenagers and young adults, which is thought to be because you have more sebum (an oily, waxy substance) on your skin when you’re this age, which makes it a more inviting environment for the fungus to grow in.
It’s also been shown to equally affect both men and women, as well as people of different ethnicities.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Tinea Versicolor
What causes tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus that normally lives on most peoples’ skin without causing any issues. In certain conditions it multiplies more than usual, but it’s not fully known why this happens to some people more than others.
When you’re in a warm moist environment, and your skin isn’t able to ‘breathe’ very well, it creates an environment where this fungus can multiply more, and cause the fungal infection which affects your skin's appearance.
What are the symptoms of tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor usually affects your back, chest, neck and upper arms. It causes patches of your skin to become scaly, dry and discoloured. It usually makes lighter or darker coloured patches of your skin compared to your normal skin tone, but the patches can also appear red, brown or pink.
Can tinea versicolor lead to other problems?
Not usually, no. Because it doesn’t affect your health, you won’t feel physically unwell from tinea versicolor, and it won’t lead to any other physical conditions. It can, though, cause emotional distress in some people if they don’t like how it affects their appearance.
It can also recur (keep coming back) in many people, even after they’ve treated it. And sometimes the discoloured patches can last for many months at a time.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Tinea Versicolor
What medications are there for tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is usually treated with antifungal treatments. These can include shampoos, tablets and creams.
Antifungal shampoos or soaps (also called antifungal washes) are usually the first treatments prescribed, and you’ll use them around once a week – applying them to the affected area and leaving it for around five to ten minutes before washing it off. These shampoos are often available over the counter – just be sure to check that it’s suitable to treat tinea versicolor before you buy it.
If only a small area of your skin is affected, you might be prescribed an antifungal cream, and you’ll usually apply the antifungal cream to your skin once or twice a day for several weeks.
If a large area of your skin is affected, or if these other treatments haven’t worked, then you might then be prescribed antifungal tablets. Typically, you’ll take antifungal tablets once a day for up to four weeks.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for tinea versicolor?
The first option to treat tinea versicolor is often the use of antifungal shampoos, but this doesn’t always mean that it’ll be the best option for you. Different treatments work differently for different people. If you’re not sure which antifungal treatment will work best for you, have a chat with our clinician. They’ll ask you about your condition and health history, and will be able to recommend which treatments will suit you best.
Does tinea versicolor always need treatment?
Not always, no. Because it’s only a condition which affects your appearance rather than your health, it’s up to you whether you use treatments for it or not. But it doesn’t usually go away on it’s own, so if you want to get your skin back to how it was before you had the condition, then treatment is recommended.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Tinea Versicolor
FAQ: Tinea Versicolor
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How is tinea versicolor diagnosed?
Answer:
Often you’ll be able to self-diagnose tinea versicolor by checking your symptoms. You’ll just need to check that your condition isn’t vitiligo rather than tinea versicolor, as these conditions are treated differently.
Whereas tinea versicolor creates dry or textured patches of skin, the patches of skin caused by vitiligo will normally have the same texture as the skin around it. Vitiligo usually also has patches that appear on both sides of your body at the same time, which will usually be symmetrical. Also, vitiligo will often appear on different areas of your body to tinea versicolor, like your face and lower arms, whereas tinea versicolor will usually appear on your chest, neck, upper arms and back.
Are there tests for tinea versicolor?
Answer:
It’s unlikely that you’ll be tested for tinea versicolor – it can usually be accurately diagnosed simply by examining your skin.
You might want to see a clinician in person if antifungal treatments don’t clear your skin up, though, just in case the cause is something else. They’ll be able to be sure whether it’s tinea versicolor or not after checking your skin with a microscope.
Can you get side effects from tinea versicolor treatment?
Answer:
You can get minor side effects from antifungal treatments, but they’re usually quite rare. Antifungal shampoos can sometimes cause dryness and irritation on your skin, whereas antifungal creams can sometimes cause a burning sensation. Because antifungal tablets are ingested, they can sometimes cause stomach discomfort. For more guidance on side effects from specific treatments, check out our product pages or ask our clinicians.
Does tinea versicolor treatment always work?
Answer:
Antifungal treatments are usually very effective at treating tinea versicolor, though it might take a long time for your skin to return to normal after treatment. In some cases the condition can recur as well. You can reduce the likelihood of tinea versicolor recurring by regularly using antifungal shampoos, especially in the summer or if you’re going on holiday to somewhere hot. If it keeps coming back then you might be prescribed antifungal tablets to take on a regular basis to prevent it, or you might be referred to a dermatologist (skin specialist) who will be able to help.
Why should I buy tinea versicolor treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
Talk to us about your health. Our expert team can offer you tailored treatments to suit your needs, on a schedule that suits your lifestyle. Your treatment will be sent to you promptly and discreetly, and if you’ve got any questions you can get in touch with us whenever you like.
Once you’ve started using your treatment we’ll ask you how you’re getting on with it, and if it’s not working as you’d hoped then you can change to another treatment which might be more suitable for you.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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