Remedies For Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a medical condition that causes individuals to develop patches of discolored skin. The patches on a person's skin are irregularly shaped, and they can be either lighter or darker than surrounding skin. Some patients just get small spots of discolored skin while others may have splotches several inches wide. The underlying cause of tinea versicolor is yeast overgrowths. All individuals have small amounts of yeast and other microorganisms growing on their skin, but if something causes imbalances, the yeast may begin to multiply at rapid rates. Though it can make some feel self-conscious, tinea versicolor is not painful or contagious, and it is fairly easy to treat. Here are a few of the most common treatment methods for this condition.

Oral Antifungal Medication

Patients with tinea versicolor that is not responding to the mild antifungal creams they can buy over-the-counter, they may need to speak to a doctor about switching to oral medication. Oral antifungal medication can be quite convenient because they do not have to carefully spread it over the affected skin, so it is useful if tinea versicolor is on the back or another hard to reach spot. The most commonly prescribed types of oral antifungal are either fluconazole or itraconazole. Another option is ketoconazole. This unusual antifungal requires patients to work up a sweat through exercise or a hot environment after taking the medication. The sweat then delivers the antifungal to the skin. Patients need to avoid showering for several hours following the treatment. Oral antifungal medication is so strong that it is not recommended for long term use because it may cause temporary liver damage. Some individuals also report feeling queasy or having stomach discomfort after they take the medication.

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