Tinea Versicolor Essay

663 Words3 Pages
Tinea Versicolor Description/Characteristics - All of us have certain types of fungi called yeast living on our skin. However, sometimes these yeast colonies grow out of control. This leads to splotches of discoloration long-term temporary discoloration throughout the skin. On a microscopic level they look like stretched out ovals that when combined and clustered, form these splotches of discoloration on the skin. Characteristics of the splotches vary in color throughout skin color, however, a majority of the people affected have either reddish, pinkish or even white discolored skin. The splotches may be ring shaped and rarely have itchy raised corners. Tinea Versicolor is common among young adults .The most common areas it affects are the shoulders, back, and chest. It also may affect folds of skin, such as the crook of the arm, the skin under the breasts, or the neck. Signs and Symptoms - Signs and symptoms to watch out for Tinea Versicolor include the obvious spots of discoloration of the skin. They start of small in areas of the skin that receive the most heat and humidity (or sweat). The splotches may be white, red or pink but the small discolorations are a sign as well as the major symptom of Tinea Versicolor. The spots can appear anywhere on the body and can be dry and scaly (usually not the case). The spots become more noticeable as the skin tans because the yeast prevents the skin from tanning but does not affect the surrounding skin. Also, the spots grow slowly. Diagnosis - Due to the fact Tinea Versicolor is relatively common, a dermatologist can often just look at the skin and diagnose the patient. However, if they are unsure they may gently scrape off a bit of the skin to be microscopically examined. They may also look at the skin with a special tool called Wood's lamp. When using the Wood's lamp, the dermatologist would hold the
Open Document