Tinea Versicolor

Various skin diseases are often experienced by children as well as adults. One of them is Tinea Versikolor. Can someone affect by this recover quickly? And can a condition like this be contagious to others? Find an explanation of the causes, as well as treatment in Tinea Versicolor: (What is tinea versicolor?) Is it Dangerous? What’s the Difference With Ringworm

What is Tinea Versicolor?

Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection of the skin characterized by light and dark-colored patches. Tinea Versicolor arises from Malassezia fungal infection found on the surface of the skin.

Humans do have fungi that live on the skin in normal quantities. Fungi like Malassezia do not cause health problems. Fungi can even coexist with body cells, and support each other (symbiotic).

Many microbiotas (or microscopic organisms), including these fungi, play a role in protecting you from infections and other pathogens that can harm or cause disease.

However, sometimes fungi can multiply excessively and affect the natural color or pigmentation of the skin. That’s why you’ll find that the skin is lighter or darker than the skin around when exposed to Tinea versicolor.

How common is this disease?

Tinea Versicolor is common and can happen to anyone. But this is more commonly experienced by adolescents and young adults. Adults are more likely to develop Tinea versicolor if they are in areas with subtropical climates.

Tinea versicolor is usually most common in males compared to females. This condition is also often experienced by people who sweat a lot.

Is Tinea Versicolor dangerous?

When the body sweats, tinea versicolor will itch. This fungus is not dangerous and is generally found on human skin.

What’s the Difference With Ringworm?

The difference between Tinea Versicolor and Ringworm lies in their spread.

If Ringworm can be transmitted by physical touch or from a contaminated item, it is different from Tinea Versicolor. The disease is not transmitted among human beings. It is common in children living in the tropics. Tinea versicolor is characterized by the onset of light-colored patches on the skin.

Learn more about Ring Worms Humans: (What Causes Ringworms On Humans) and Can It Be Transmitted to Animals?

What are the symptoms of Tinea Versicolor?

One of the most obvious signs and symptoms of Tinea versicolor is an uneven color on some parts of the skin. Generally, Tinea versicolor is painless and often appears on the arms, chest, neck, or back.

Tinea versicolor patches can appear in copper brown, paler than the surrounding skin, or pink. Lighter patches may be common in those with darker skin.

Some other characteristics of Tinea versicolor are:

• Dry and scaly skin
• Causes itching
• More noticeable when sunbathing, is because yeast fungus inhibits the tanning process
• Prone to disappearing in colder, less humid weather
• Arise slowly

Tinea versicolor that appears in dark-skinned people can cause loss of skin color. This condition is known as hypopigmentation. As for some people with whiter skin, the skin affected by this fungus can darken. This condition is called hyperpigmentation.

Some people affected by Tinea versicolor have no significant changes to their skin color or appearance. In general, the pale patches that appear also do not affect the vulnerability of the skin to sunlight.