It was on this day and on that bus that I felt a timid tap on my shoulder. An even more timid whisper followed the tap, “Sorry dear, please help me tell your sister that she has ringworm on her back.” Suddenly, the heat I felt was not from the sun, but from blood rising to my cheeks on her behalf.
When we got home, we promptly investigated the claim. There was no red skin, no prominent ring-shaped rash. All we saw was a small patch of skin about two shades lighter than her skin tone.
She didn’t have ringworm or eczema. She had tinea versicolor.
WHAT IS TINEA VERSICOLOR?
Tinea versicolor or pityriasis versicolor is a common fungal infection that affects over 100,000 people in Nigeria each year.
It is caused by the fungus Malassezia which is found on the surface of our skin. This normally helpful symbiote can sometimes spiral out of control like a houseguest that not only overstays his welcome but invites his family to take over your home.
When this happens, you develop patches of skin that may be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin.
Tinea versicolor is not contagious, and you can not contract it by sharing towels or clothes.
WHAT CAUSES TINEA VERSICOLOR?
Several factors that can trigger the fungal hostile takeover include:
sun exposurehot weather
excessive sweating
oily skin
hormonal changes
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TINEA VERSICOLOR
As stated at the outset, tinea versicolor is often misdiagnosed (mostly by people who are neither trained nor qualified to diagnose anything) and mistaken for other skin conditions such as eczema, ringworm, and vitiligo.
The most visible sign of tinea versicolor is discolored patches of skin, which commonly appear on the arms, chest, neck, or back. These patches could be:
darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation) than the surrounding skin
a shade of pink, red, tan, or brown
scaly, dry, and itching
In cooler, less humid temperatures, they are more likely to vanishly to vanish.
HOW IS TINEA VERSICOLOR TREATED?
Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection. Therefore, wolfing down antibiotics and using antibacterial creams to treat it will only destroy your gut flora and damage your skin barrier.
Basically, you will continue to have itchy patches of skin but in addition to that, you won’t be able to pass out faeces because you’d have destroyed the bacteria in your digestive tract.
Antifungal creams or shampoos purchased over-the-counter (OTC) may be beneficial to treat the infection.
They include:
clotrimazole
miconazole
selenium sulfide
terbinafine
If you seek medical help for tinea versicolor, your doctor may prescribe topical creams that you can apply directly to your skin.
Examples are:
ketoconazole
ciclopirox
Your doctor may also prescribe the following oral medications:
fluconazole
itraconazole
ketoconazole
Sadly, even after you treat the infection, your skin may stay discolored for several weeks or months. When the weather gets warmer and more humid, your infection may recur.
If your condition returns, your doctor may prescribe medication once or twice per month to prevent symptoms.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TINEA VERSICOLOR, ECZEMA, AND RINGWORM
It is important to know the difference between these infections, as they each require different courses of treatment.
ECZEMA