Pityriasis versicolor, the cause and treatment of which will be discussed later, is a common form of cutaneous fungus. It appears mainly on the chest, shoulders, neck and back in the form of randomly colored spots. They can be reddish, pink, coffee and almost white and cause slight itching and peeling of the skin at the lesion sites.
Pityriasis versicolor: cause
What this type of skin disease appears from is not known for certain. A yeast of the genus Malassezia can be found on the skin of any person, but for some reason in individuals it begins to grow intensely, affecting the skin with small spots, which eventually merge and turn into large areas. Obviously, the predisposition of the organism to skin diseases or a general decrease in the immune background are guilty of this.
Who is striking and what does multi-colored lichen look like in humans
Pityriasis versicolor, as it turned out, affects more often people with increased sweating, oily skin, and also living in a warm, humid climate. It can worsen every summer, almost disappearing in the cold season. It is often called “beach” versicolor, implying that skin lesions are especially visible on a tanned body. This is due to the action of sunlight on the fungus, which, in turn, releases chemicals that destroy pigment cells (melanocytes) in human skin.
Is pityriasis versicolor contagious?
The cause of this disease has led doctors to conclude that this skin disease is conditionally harmless. It is not associated with poor hygiene and is not transmitted from person to person, since 90% of people already have Malassezia yeast on their skin.
Diagnostics
They diagnose pityriasis versicolor, a photo of which you can see here, according to external signs and with the help of an ultraviolet lamp, known as a Wood lamp. It helps to detect the typical yellow-green fluorescence of multicolored lichen. In some cases, scrapings are made in order to verify the presence of yeast.
Treatment and prevention of recurrence of pityriasis versicolor
The disease under discussion can be treated with antifungal gels, shampoos, creams and tablets. Gels and shampoos should be left on the affected areas for 5-10 minutes, and then washed off. A similar procedure is repeated every day for a week. Burning and slight itching during the application of these funds are a normal reaction.
An antifungal cream is used to treat small areas. It is applied to the skin twice a day for several weeks. If shampoos and cream are not effective, a dermatologist prescribes special pills. They are taken once a day for one to four weeks.
In general, the disease can be cured in a few months, but relapses are possible. To avoid them, you must periodically use the above funds, especially in the summer, when the risk of pityriasis versicolor, the cause and symptoms of which have been considered, increases significantly.
Do not be ill!