The first sign of tinea versicolor is often spots on the skin. These spots may:

• Be lighter (or darker) than your surrounding skin. The color of the spots can be white, pink, salmon, red, tan, or brown.
• Appear anywhere on the body.
• Be dry and scaly.
• Cause the affected skin to itch.
• Become more noticeable when you have a tan (the yeast prevents the skin from tanning).
• Grow slowly.
• Grow together, forming patches of lighter (or darker) skin.
• Disappear when the temperature drops and return in the spring or summer when the air turns warm and humid.

Yeast normally live on our skin. When the yeast overgrows, it causes the skin disease tinea versicolor.

It is believed that the following can cause the yeast to overgrow:

• Hot, humid weather
• Lots of sweating
• Oily skin
• A weakened immune system

The yeast that causes tinea versicolor lives on everyone’s skin. It is not clear why the yeast overgrows on some people’s skin and not others.

We do know the following about tinea versicolor:

• People of all skin colors get it
• Teens and young adults are most susceptible because they have oily skin
• Older adults and children rarely get it unless they live in a tropical or subtropical area
• People who live in non-tropical areas often see tinea versicolor disappear during the cool, dry months

What a dermatologist prescribes depends on several things. These include where the tinea versicolor appears on your body, how much skin has tinea versicolor, how thick the spots have grown, and the climate.

Treatment for tinea versicolor may include:

• Medicine applied to the skin: This is the most common treatment. There are anti-fungal shampoos, soaps, creams, and lotions that can keep the yeast under control. The active ingredient in these medicines is often selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, or pyrithione zinc.
• Medicated cleansers: Tinea versicolor often returns, especially when a person lives in a place that is warm and humid. Using a medicated cleanser once or twice a month, especially during warm and humid periods, can prevent the yeast from overgrowing again.
• Anti-fungal pills: A dermatologist may prescribe these pills if the tinea versicolor covers a large area of the body, is thick, or often returns after it is treated. These pills are taken for a short time. During this time, your dermatologist will monitor you.