There are many pathogens that cause damage to the skin of a person. A special place among such diseases is taken by lichens. There are various types of them, including pityriasis versicolor.
Pityriasis versicolor versicolor is a disease over a long period of time caused by a fungus. During it, the epidermis is damaged, as a result of which pigmented spots appear on the skin, the shade of which can be different: yellow, pink, brown or brown. This is deprived of the characteristic pityriasis peeling, hence the name. The main and easiest way to diagnose it is to carry out a Balcer test.
Causes of occurrence
Pityriasis versicolor infection is caused by infection with the fungus Pityrosporum orbiculare. Even in a healthy person, it can normally be present in the stratum corneum of the epidermis and hair follicles. It is quite difficult to get them from contact with a sick person. Most often, certain factors are provoking activation of the fungus. These include:
- Decreased immunity.
- The development of seborrhea.
- Excessive sweating.
- The chemical composition of sweat.
- Violated exfoliation of the epidermis.
- Individual predisposition to the disease.
- The presence of diabetes.
- The presence of tuberculosis in humans.
- Changes in the body during puberty.
- Chronic pathology in the gastrointestinal tract.
- The use of clothing made of synthetic fabrics.
Symptoms of pityriasis versicolor
When infected with pityriasis versicolor, the following symptoms appear:
- Pigmented spots appear on the skin, the color of which can vary from yellow to brown.
- The surface of these spots is covered with very fine peeling.
- Localization of spots mainly on the skin of the back, chest, abdomen, shoulders and sides of the body.
- After scraping from peeling spots, it only intensifies.
- After recovery, the spots of white color remain on the sites of the foci of lichen, which gradually become equal in color with healthy skin.
Lichen can bother a person for a very long time - from several months to several years.
Diagnosing multicolored lichen
In order to assert with confidence that a person is sick with pityriasis or multi-colored lichen, he needs to undergo a series of the following studies:
- Dermatologist consultation.
- Examine the skin with a Wood lamp.
- Make a microscopic analysis of skin flakes.
- Make a test of Balcer.
For a disease with multi-colored or pityriasis versicolor, a characteristic feature is a skin rash, which has a spotty character. However, a similar picture can be seen in the presence of other diseases associated with dermatology. That is why to diagnose this type of lichen, it is necessary to conduct differential diagnosis. In this, the Balcer test helps doctors. It is a simple and affordable technique that is widely used in medical practice.
What is this test?
The Balcer test is an affordable, effective and inexpensive method used in the process of diagnosing multicolored or pityriasis versicolor.
Since the symptoms of some skin diseases are similar to each other, it is such a test that makes it possible to conduct a comparative diagnosis. Among the many different lichens, the Balcer test is able to determine precisely multi-colored or pityriasis versicolor. It will help to distinguish it from vitiligo, pink lichen giber or syphilitic roseola.
The essence of the test
Many people know that iodine solution, depending on the amount, stains the skin in orange or brown. In places of localization of multi-colored lichen, loosening of the epithelium occurs. Thanks to this, the Balcer test with iodine is very effective.
When applying iodine solution to the depriving zone, the loose epithelium absorbs and retains a large amount of the solution, resulting in lichen becoming much darker. The spot of multi-colored lichen is very distinguished by color on healthy skin slightly colored with iodine in yellow, since it has a dark brown tint. This result is possible due to the loosened upper layer of the skin - the epidermis, which, during a disease such depriving, differs from a healthy skin by the increased conductivity of the iodine solution, and as a result, it stains more.
Balcer's iodine test is an additional diagnostic method for multi-colored lichen, which makes it possible to make a diagnosis even in cases where after conducting clinical examinations, doctors have any doubts.
Since this test is completely harmless, it can be done by everyone. Even pregnant and breastfeeding women are no exception.
Procedure
The technique for conducting iodine test of Balcer is very simple and affordable. For the procedure, you must use a 5% alcohol solution of iodine. Using a cotton swab, or just cotton, it is necessary to lubricate the flaking area with a solution of iodine. In cases where a person is sick with multi-colored or pityriasis versicolor, the result will be noticeable immediately, since the lichen spots will become darker in comparison with healthy skin.
The Balzer test can also be carried out, replacing iodine, with aniline dyes: brilliant green or methylene blue. Results will not differ. However, the classic Balcer test involves the use of a solution of iodine.
Conducting at home
Looking at the simplicity of the Balzer test, it seems that each person can conduct it independently at home. However, it should be borne in mind that this test is only part of the entire complex of examinations that the patient undergoes. This complex, in addition to the iodine test, provides for a number of additional examinations. Among them are the following: microscopic analysis of skin flakes, fungus inoculation on specific nutrient media, etc.
Only conducting a full-fledged study and studying the results of examinations enable the dermatologist to make the correct diagnosis and draw up an appropriate treatment regimen. Even the presence of a positive test by Balzer does not become a final indicator for a specialist in the field of dermatology that a person is sick with multi-colored lichen.
Treatment of multicolored lichen
The treatment process for this deprivation is quite laborious, however, a complete cure is possible. Doctors often prescribe the sequential use of certain drugs: exfoliating (iodine, salicylic alcohol, boric acid or ichthyol ointment) and antifungal.