Pityriasis versicolor, also known as multicolored lichen, is a fungal disease that affects the stratum corneum. Why does this ailment arise, how does it manifest and what features does the treatment of pityriasis versicolor in people have? Let's get it right.
Causes of the disease
Absolutely reliable data on the causes of the appearance of pityriasis versicolor has not been identified to date. Often this ailment occurs in those people who for a long time are in a humid and hot climate. But at the same time, it is wrong to say that the appearance of multi-colored lichen is associated only with sun exposure. So, among the factors provoking the disease include:
- frequent visits to the solarium;
- oily skin;
- decreased immunity during pregnancy or vitamin deficiency;
- strong emotional shock;
- excessive sweating;
- often the use of antibacterial cosmetics;
- endocrine system diseases (primarily diabetes mellitus);
- oncological diseases, tuberculosis.
Most often, adolescents, as well as men under the age of thirty, are prone to pityriasis.
Symptoms
The characteristic features of multi-colored lichen are brownish-yellow spots on the human body . The first spots, as a rule, are localized near the hairline and begin to grow over time. Some of them, merging with each other as a whole, affect significant areas of the skin.
If you do not take any measures aimed at treating this ailment, then gradually the spots will change their color and become coffee. For this reason, the disease is called multi-colored lichen. Affected areas of the skin do not itch, but have a smooth flaky surface and look very unattractive.
Spots can occur absolutely on any part of the body, but most often they appear on the stomach, back, neck, chest, shoulders. Pityriasis versicolor in very rare cases can even be found in the face.
Diagnostics
Before thinking about how to treat pityriasis versicolor, you need to make sure that this disease is occurring. To do this, consult a specialist for an accurate diagnosis. To diagnose multi-colored lichen, a Wood fluorescent lamp is used. It is necessary to illuminate the affected areas, and if there is a disease, the glow of the lamp will become golden or pinkish.
To identify pityriasis versicolor in children and adults will also help Balzer test. The essence of the method is that iodine solution is applied to the area affected by the lichen. Spots of multi-colored lichen when interacting with iodine will change their color to darker.
Drug treatment
If pityriasis versicolor has arisen, treatment, preparations of an antifungal property in which are an integral component, should be started immediately. In this case, it will be possible to quickly and easily overcome the disease.
Treatment of pityriasis versicolor in people is prescribed in each case individually. So, at an early stage of the disease, when the lesions are still insignificant, antifungal ointments will help get rid of the disease , the most effective of which are the preparations “Klotrisal”, “Ketodin”, “Nizoral”. Rub the ointment twice a day for 2-4 weeks.
How to get rid of pityriasis versicolor, characterized by the defeat of a significant surface area of the skin? In such cases, ingestion of drugs such as Nizoral, Orungal, as well as Fluconazole is indicated.
Eliminating the fungus from the scalp will help washing your hair with special therapeutic shampoos, including Nizoral, Dermazole, etc. At the end of treatment of pityriasis versicolor with antifungal drugs to restore the natural color of the skin, erythema doses of UV radiation can be prescribed.
For several months after the end of the course of treatment, wipe salicylic or boric alcohol twice a week to prevent the possibility of secondary infection of the site of the former rash.
Pityriasis versicolor tablets
Taking pills is only advisable when the disease is started. Consider some effective drugs.
Such a medicine as Griseofulvin, produced in the form of tablets, has proven itself well. A feature of this medicine is the fact that it is necessary to take it with vegetable oil, and this can be done both with meals and after meals. The daily dose for adults is 8 tablets. You need to take this remedy until complete recovery. However, it is important to ensure that there are no contraindications.
Another drug that deserves attention is the medication “Ketoconazole”. The medicine should be taken exclusively as prescribed by the doctor and under his supervision. The dosage of Ketoconazole depends on the severity of the disease and is usually 200-400 mg per day. The same applies to the duration of treatment, which can vary from 4 to 8 weeks.
Sulfuric ointment
Very often, the treatment of pityriasis versicolor in people is carried out using such a simple, inexpensive, and at the same time effective medication, such as sulfuric ointment. When applied to the skin, it has an antimicrobial and antiparasitic effect on the affected area.
With a diagnosis of pityriasis versicolor, the treatment, an ointment based on sulfur in which will be the main medication, will last 5 days. At the same time, to achieve the desired effect, the medication should be applied with a thin even layer on the affected skin twice a day.
Important events
In order for treatment of pityriasis versicolor in people to quickly lead to recovery, it is very important to observe a number of requirements. So, bedding and underwear must be changed daily. At the same time, it is important to boil all things, and then carefully iron them - only in this way can the destruction of the spores of the fungus that causes this disease be achieved.
During the treatment period, the patient should wear only those clothes and use only bedding that is made of natural fabrics. Great importance is given to the observance of personal hygiene. So, you should take a shower or bath daily, using baby soap or other mild detergents.
It is also necessary to take care of the use of baby powder or talcum powder, which eliminate excess skin moisture, which is a favorable factor for the occurrence and development of fungal infections.
Features of the nutrition of patients
Patients with pityriasis versicolor need to undergo certain dietary restrictions. So, you should minimize or completely abandon the use of simple carbohydrates. Sugar can, for example, be replaced with a small amount of honey. Instead of baking, you can eat bread containing bran.
The diet should contain fruits and berries rich in complex carbohydrates, as well as fresh vegetables, which contain an increased content of dietary fiber and fiber. Also in the patient's menu should be not passed heat treatment of dairy products.
Pityriasis versicolor: alternative treatment
Traditional medicine has a huge number of recipes that will help quickly and effectively eliminate pityriasis versicolor. Consider what ointments can be prepared on the basis of simple and affordable means.
- Grind fresh sorrel and mix the resulting slurry in equal proportions with sour cream or heavy cream. Lubricate the affected area for 10 days.
- Grind the dry grass of the fragrant rue into powder, add softened butter in a ratio of 1: 3. Treat lichen twice a day.
- Mix the powder from dry hypericum (10 g) with petroleum jelly (40 g). The resulting mass daily lubricate the affected skin for days.
- Turn fresh St. John's wort into slurry, add birch tar and butter in equal amounts. Mix everything thoroughly until a mass is uniform in consistency. Use as compresses that apply to affected skin areas for 40 minutes.
Herbal treatment
Healing herbs perfectly enhance immunity and contribute to a speedy recovery. Decoctions and infusions can be used both internally and externally. Consider individual recipes.
- Pour the roots and seeds of sorrel (1 tbsp.) With cold water (200 ml), send to the stove and cook for 10 minutes. Let the resulting liquid stand for 1 hour, then strain it and use it as the basis for the compress.
- Mix in equal proportions a string and eucalyptus. Pour the resulting mixture (3 tbsp.) Into a glass jar and pour boiling water (800 ml). All this send in a water bath for 40 minutes. After the time has passed, cool the broth, strain and apply compresses with it.
- Launched pityriasis versicolor will help to cure grass such as immortelle. It is necessary to inflorescence immortelle (40 g) with boiling water (0.5 l) and let it brew for 2 hours. Strain and lubricate diseased skin with liquid.
Preventative measures
Unfortunately, very often after a full recovery, patients with pityriasis versicolor complain that the disease has returned again. Indeed, a significant number of people are facing a relapse of this ailment. In order to try to avoid these troubles, you should adhere to certain rules:
- From time to time in the spring-summer period, wipe the skin with slightly acidic water, to which citric acid or vinegar should first be added.
- It is important to use antifungal hygiene products every 3-4 weeks, including shampoos, gels, ointments.
- Periodically disinfect clothing, bedding and underwear in a 2% soap-soda solution. After such processing, all things must be carefully ironed with an iron.
There are many methods to get rid of such an ailment as pityriasis versicolor. Treatment, ointment and tablets in which are integral components, it is recommended to supplement with alternative methods of combating this disease.