How Is It Diagnosed
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history as well as your recent travels.
Tinea nigra can look like more serious skin conditions, such as malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that can present as dark patches. Because of this, your doctor may want to scrape a sample of the lesion and send it to a lab for testing. In some cases, the lesion can be scraped entirely away and not require any further treatment.
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What Is The Outlook For Pityriasis Versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor generally clears satisfactorily with treatment but often recurs when conditions are right for malassezia to proliferate. The fine surface scale is the indication of active infection and once this has disappeared, infection is no longer ongoing. The colour may persist for weeks or months, particularly the hypopigmentation, and do not indicate treatment failure.
Pityriasis versicolor often recurs when the weather becomes warm and humid again. Regular use of topical treatment minimises this risk.
How Is Pityriasis Versicolor Diagnosed
If you have pityriasis versicolor, your doctor might diagnose it just by looking at the patches. He or she also might ask about the symptoms and your lifestyle. Sometimes a doctor will scrape off a small sample of the flaky infected skin to look at under a microscope or to test in a lab. Donât worry this doesnât hurt.
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Melanoma Vs Liver Spots How To Tell The Difference
Melanoma can also appear as patches of darkened skin that look like liver spots . Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that true age spots are harmless.3 However, having many age spots could put you at greater risk of skin cancer.1
You can tell the difference between age spots and melanoma by observing if the darkened patch of skin changes. Use the ABCDE system to tell the difference between melanoma and liver spots on your skin. Liver spots that become darker or change in appearance should be checked by a doctor.
Favorite Resources For Online Support
Need advice on a skin condition? For $75 you can speak with an MDLive dermatologist online and get a quick answer anytime, anywhere. Send a few photos of your skin for a doctor to diagnose your condition and if necessary, theyll write a prescription.
This is another affordable way to consult a dermatologist online. The board-certified dermatologists from SkyMD are available 24/7 to diagnose your skin condition and write a prescription, if necessary.
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How Should I Use This Medication
This medication is for external use only. Do not take by mouth. Wash hands before and after use. Do not get this medication in your eyes. If you do, rinse them out with plenty of cool tap water. Use this medication as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Do not use it more often than directed. Use the medication for the full course as directed by your care team, even if you think you are better. Do not stop using it unless your care team tells you to stop it early.
Wet the skin and apply the medication to the areas to be cleansed. Massage gently into the skin working it into a full lather. Leave in place for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with plain water. Pat the skin dry. If you are using this product on your scalp, you do not need to use regular shampoo after every application.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
How Can I Prevent A Fungal Rash
In some people, fungal rashes tend to come back even after treatment. Recurring infections may be due to genetics you may be more prone to developing these infections. These steps can help prevent a rash from recurring or developing in the first place:
Good foot hygiene
- Change your socks and wash your feet regularly. Avoid shoes made of plastic, which doesnt breathe.
- Dont walk barefoot, especially in places that may be wet, such as gym showers and locker rooms.
- When cutting your toenails, cut straight across the nail. If you have an ingrown toenail, you may need to see a podiatrist to care for it. And if you have a fungal nail infection, dont use the same nail clippers on healthy nails and infected nails.
Proper medicine use
- If your healthcare provider prescribed a cream , use the medicine as long as directed. Even after you can no longer see the rash, the fungal infection may still be there, so keep applying the cream as long as your provider recommends.
- Your healthcare provider may recommend the same course of treatment for all the members of your family. Often, people living together can pass an infection back and forth. Treating everyone will help make sure the infection is truly gone.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should use an antifungal cream regularly on your feet and nails to help prevent infections.
- Using antifungal powder in your shoes every day may help prevent athletes foot.
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What Are Causes And Risk Factors For A Skin Infection
The cause of a skin infection depends on the type of infection.
Bacterial skin infection: This occurs when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or a scratch. Getting a cut or scratch doesnt necessarily mean youll develop a skin infection, but it does increase your risk if you have a weakened immune system.
A decreased immune system can be the result of an illness or the side effect of medication.
Viral skin infection: The most common viruses come from one of three groups of viruses: poxvirus, human papillomavirus, and herpes virus.
Fungal infection: Body chemistry and lifestyle can increase the risk of a fungal infection. For example, you may experience multiple bouts of athletes foot if youre a runner or if you sweat a lot. Fungi often grow in warm, moist environments. Wearing sweaty or wet clothes is a risk factor for skin infections. A break or cut in the skin may allow bacteria to get into the deeper layers of the skin.
Parasitic skin infection: Tiny insects or organisms burrowing underneath your skin and laying eggs can cause a parasitic skin infection.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Determining whether the red spots on your skin will require a visit to your provider will depend on the appearance and severity of the rash, your medical history, and any underlying conditions you have.
In general, red flag symptoms along with red spots on your skin include:
- Severe pain or swelling
- Pus oozing from the rash
If you have red spots on your skin and red flag symptoms, seek medical care right away.
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Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
To confirm the diagnosis, your physician might scrape some of the surface skin material onto a glass slide and examine them under a microscope. This procedure, called a KOH preparation, allows the doctor to look for tell-tale signs of yeast infection.Once a diagnosis of tinea versicolor has been confirmed, the physician may recommend one of the following treatments:
- Selenium sulfide lotion
- Antifungal cream or lotion such as ketoconazole, econazole, oxiconazole, or ciclopirox
- Antifungal pills such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, or itraconazole
What Is The Cause Of Pityriasis Versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor is caused by mycelial growth of fungi of the genus Malassezia.
Malassezia are part of the normal skin microbiota . They are dependent on lipid for survival. Fourteen different species of malassezia have been identified. The most common species cultured from pityriasis versicolor are M globosa, M restricta and M sympodialis.
Usually malassezia grow sparsely in the seborrhoeic areas without causing a rash. It is not known why they sometimes grow more actively on the skin surface to form pityriasis versicolor. One theory implicates a tryptophan-dependent metabolic pathway.
The yeasts induce enlarged melanosomes within basalmelanocytes in the brown type of pityriasis versicolor. It is easier to demonstrate the yeasts in scrapings taken from this type of pityriasis versicolor than in those taken from the white type.
The white or hypopigmented type of pityriasis versicolor is thought to be due to a chemical produced by malassezia that diffuses into the epidermis and impairs the function of the melanocytes.
The pink type of pityriasis versicolor is mildly inflamed, due to dermatiits induced by malassezia or its metabolites.
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How Is A Fungal Rash Diagnosed
A healthcare provider may be able to diagnose a fungal rash by looking at it and asking about your symptoms. Many times, the diagnosis can be confirmed by examining scrapings of the scale under the microscope . In some cases, you may need a fungal culture test to identify a specific fungus and help determine the best treatment for you.
During a fungal culture test, your provider may take a small sample of skin or fluid . For severe infections, you may need a blood test.
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What Are The Clinical Features Of Pityriasis Versicolor
Pityriasis versicolor affects the trunk, neck, and/or arms, and is uncommon on other parts of the body. The patches may be coppery brown, paler than surrounding skin, or pink. Pale patches may be more common in darker skin this appearance is known as pityriasis versicolor alba. Sometimes the patches start scaly and brown, and then resolve through a non-scaly and white stage.
Pityriasis versicolor is usually asymptomatic, but in some people it is mildly itchy.
In general, pale or dark patches due to pityriasis versicolor do not tend to be more or less prone to sunburn than surrounding skin.
Hyperpigmented, hypopigmented, and pink pityriasis versicolor are usually seen as distinct variants but may sometimes co-exist. Pink pityriasis versicolor may also co-exist with seborrhoeic dermatitis as both are associated with malassezia overgrowth.
Pityriasis versicolor
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What Is Tinea Nigra
The word tinea refers to fungal infection, and the term nigra means black. Tinea nigra refers to a skin infection, which turns the affected skin areas into black or dark brown patches. The soles of the feet and the palms of the hand are the most frequently affected areas in tinea nigra infections. Not everybody is equally prone to develop a tinea nigra infection, for example it is more common in children than in adults and among girls than boys.
Tinea infections are a group of superficial, fungal infections of the skin that are technically referred to as dermatophytosis . These infections are usually limited to the outermost layers of the skin, and do not affect the tissue layers underneath. Tinea nigra is no exception. However, tinea nigra is a relatively uncommon infection, compared to the common fungal skin infections such as tinea cruris , tinea pedis , and tinea corporis .
Read more on ringworm.
This is because the fungal species that cause other tinea infections are very common in the environment, whereas the species of fungi that causes tinea nigra is relatively rare. Although both tinea nigra and tinea pedis affect the feet, it should be noted that unlike tinea nigra, tinea pedis does not affect the soles of the feet. Tinea pedis is also known as a ringworm infection due to the typical round ring-like lesion and does not cause a dark black spot like tinea nigra.
Fungal Skin Infections Treatments
Home remedies, self medications, over-the-counter medicines and commercial anti fungal creams which claim to cure fungal skin infections are not 100% safe without Dermatologists guidance. Some ingredients can be very harmful to your skin and your health. They may worsen the situation too.
Consult a Skin Doctor instead.
Fungal Skin Infections can be a challenge to treat you may want to see a Dermatologist who has the expertise to combine antifungal treatments and antibiotic for skin infections to help you get skin cured without worsening it.
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Differences Between Pityriasis Versicolor And Vitiligo
Pityriasis versicolor can sometimes be confused with vitiligo, as they both cause the skin to become discoloured in patches.
But there are ways to tell the difference:
- vitiligo often develops symmetrically , while pityriasis versicolor may not
- skin affected by vitiligo usually has a normal texture, while areas affected by pityriasis versicolor are usually slightly scaly or flaky
- vitiligo is more common around the mouth, eyes, fingers, wrists, armpits and groin, while pityriasis versicolor tends to develop on the back, chest, upper arms, neck and tummy
Home Remedies To Avoid
People may wish to keep in mind that many of the home remedies that webpages recommend may have side effects or no evidence of effectiveness. Examples include lemon and apple cider vinegar. No studies back the claims that these treatments work.
In some cases, unproven treatments may aggravate the skin. For example, the American Society for Dermatological Surgery do not recommend lemon juice or abrasive scrubs, as these methods could make dark spots worse.
Some skin lightening products can do more harm than good. Many contain ingredients that can harm the skin or overall health, such as mercury or steroids. Applying these can cause pimples, rashes, and fragile skin over time.
A doctor or dermatologist can often work out the cause of dark spots on the skin by examining them and taking a medical history.
During a physical exam, the healthcare professional might perform a Woods lamp skin exam, where they view the spots through a special device that emits black light.
In some instances, specific characteristics of a spot might require more tests to make sure skin cancer is not causing the spot.
Anyone can develop dark spots on the skin. Certain risk factors appear to increase a persons chances including:
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Who Can And Cannot Use Ketoconazole
Ketoconazole creams and shampoos can be used by most adults and children aged 12 years and over.
Ketoconazole is not suitable for everyone. To make sure itâs safe for you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ketoconazole or any other medicine.
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Who Is At Risk For Developing A Fungal Rash
Anyone can develop a fungal rash. Superficial infections of the skin and nails are cited as the most common form of infection, affecting up to 20-25% of the worlds population at any given time. For example, athletes foot often affects otherwise healthy people. You may have a higher risk for developing a skin rash if you:
- Have a weakened immune system .
- Take long-term or high-dose antibiotics.
- Have excess weight.
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Skin Fungus And White Spots
The condition of skin fungus and white spots is called tinea versicolor. This article provides some information about this condition, its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
The condition of skin fungus and white spots is called tinea versicolor. This article provides some information about this condition, its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Tinea versicolor, a fungal infection can interfere with the normal pigmentation of the skin and create small spots which give a patchy appearance to the skin. This skin infection is quite common in hot and humid areas. Teens and young adults seem to be more prone to this infection. The condition can be prevented by following some measures. Also, if one has this skin condition then it is important to consult a dermatologist.
Causes
Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection which thrives around the hair follicles region. It can be seen where the hair follicles open on the skin surface. If a little amount of fungus is on the skin, it is not a severe condition and can go unnoticed. However, when the fungus spreads more, the condition tinea versicolor occurs. The conditions which trigger this fungal infection are:
Symptoms
This skin condition is more noticeable on dark skin but can affect anyone, regardless of the skin color. Here are the various symptoms of tinea versicolor, that will help one spot this skin condition.
Treatment
Prevention
When Should You Contact Your Doctor
If you develop symptoms of tinea versicolor, you may choose to treat the condition yourself. Over-the-counter antifungal medications can eliminate discolored patches of skin. However, you should contact your doctor if these treatments arent effective. You may need a prescription medication to control your symptoms.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Tinea Versicolor
For most people, tinea versicolor causes mild symptoms. These may include:
- Skin discoloration, usually on your back, chest and abdomen. Discolored patches can appear anywhere on your body and be shades of pink, yellow, brown, tan or white.
- Itching at or around areas of skin affected by tinea versicolor.
- Excessive sweating.
- Patches of skin that may dry out and form scales.
- Patches of skin that dont darken or tan in the sun.
How Can I Treat Tinea Versicolor At Home
There are several options for treating tinea versicolor yourself. The most common is using a dandruff shampoo containing selenium. Apply the shampoo to your skin in the shower and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing. There are also several options available over-the-counter. Use these medications as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you dont notice changes after several weeks. A stronger medication may be needed.
Healthcare providers dont recommend most natural or at-home remedies because their effects arent well studied.
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