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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Pityriasis Versicolor?
Question: Ive had this butterfly shaped thing on my back for over a year. I'm most curious as to what it really is and how'd I get it. Moreover what can I do to get rid of it?
Brief Answer:
Pityriasis versicolor
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query. I have looked at the picture.
I would keep a possibility of Pityriasis versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia Furfur. The infection is more common in hot and humid weather conditions, which favor the growth of the fungus.
Clinically it presents as light colored patches with fine, brawny scaling and resolves with post-inflammatory hypopigmentation.
A single oral dose of an oral antifungal e.g fluconazole 400 mg is curative OR Itraconazole 200 mg once daily for a week, is an alternative.
If i were your treating dermatologist, i would have also asked you to apply 2% ketoconazole lotion over the whole affected while showering, lather it well and leave it on for 5 minutes daily, for 5 days.
Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation takes some time to respond. Repigmentation can be hastened by daily sun exposure for 5-10 minutes
Repeated recurrences are common and the patches may seem to persist for ever, with new patches appearing while older one resolve.
Regards
Pityriasis versicolor
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query. I have looked at the picture.
I would keep a possibility of Pityriasis versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia Furfur. The infection is more common in hot and humid weather conditions, which favor the growth of the fungus.
Clinically it presents as light colored patches with fine, brawny scaling and resolves with post-inflammatory hypopigmentation.
A single oral dose of an oral antifungal e.g fluconazole 400 mg is curative OR Itraconazole 200 mg once daily for a week, is an alternative.
If i were your treating dermatologist, i would have also asked you to apply 2% ketoconazole lotion over the whole affected while showering, lather it well and leave it on for 5 minutes daily, for 5 days.
Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation takes some time to respond. Repigmentation can be hastened by daily sun exposure for 5-10 minutes
Repeated recurrences are common and the patches may seem to persist for ever, with new patches appearing while older one resolve.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks for the diagnosis. so basically, if i expose the infected area in the sun, it will only become worse? additionally, do you think it's because i havent received all of my immunization shots as yet? or is it something in my blood that i need to test for?
Brief Answer:
P versicolor
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
At present it is brownish in color. After antifungal treatment it would resolve but it might leave some amount of hypopigmentation (lighter in color) for some days, that is because the fungus produces a chemical called azaleic acid which causes skin lightening.
The hypopigmentation may take some time to resolve. However re-pigmentation can be hastened by daily sun exposure for 5-10 minutes.
So, first of all take antifungal treatment and once this dark colored patch resolves it might leave behind hypopigmentation. Therefore for resultant hypopigmentation you should expose this area to sun daily for 5- 10 min to facilitate repigmentation.
It is not related to immunisation. No test is required.
Regards
P versicolor
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
At present it is brownish in color. After antifungal treatment it would resolve but it might leave some amount of hypopigmentation (lighter in color) for some days, that is because the fungus produces a chemical called azaleic acid which causes skin lightening.
The hypopigmentation may take some time to resolve. However re-pigmentation can be hastened by daily sun exposure for 5-10 minutes.
So, first of all take antifungal treatment and once this dark colored patch resolves it might leave behind hypopigmentation. Therefore for resultant hypopigmentation you should expose this area to sun daily for 5- 10 min to facilitate repigmentation.
It is not related to immunisation. No test is required.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
okay. thank you very much, Dr. Kakkar.
Brief Answer:
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
thanks for posting your concern at healthcaremagic
Regards
Wish you good health always!!
If you don't have any more clarifications kindly rate my answer after closing the discussion
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
thanks for posting your concern at healthcaremagic
Regards
Wish you good health always!!
If you don't have any more clarifications kindly rate my answer after closing the discussion
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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