Will my skin return to normal after tinea versicolor?

It causes patches on the skin that are lighter or darker than your normal skin color. The patches most often occur on the chest or back. They also stop the skin from tanning evenly and often appear as lighter spots on tan skin. After treatment, it might take several months for your skin color to return to normal.

Does tinea versicolor go away permanently?

For some people, tinea versicolor causes skin discoloration that lasts for months to years. In most cases, this discoloration fades away gradually after treatment is complete.

How long does it take for tinea versicolor to disappear?

How long does tinea versicolor take to go away? The duration of tinea versicolor varies from person to person. On average, treatment takes about one to four weeks. But in some cases, it can take weeks or months for skin color to return to normal.

How do you know when tinea versicolor is gone?

Even after the infection has gone away, the spots may be visible as lighter (hypopigmented) patches on the skin that may not get their normal color back for many months. These hypopigmented spots do not tan normally. The hypopigmented areas are more obvious in darker-skinned people.

How do you stop tinea versicolor from coming back?

To help prevent tinea versicolor from returning, your doctor can prescribe a skin or oral treatment that you use once or twice a month. You may need to use these just during warm and humid months. Preventive treatments include: Selenium sulfide (Selsun) 2.5 percent lotion or shampoo.

Why do I keep getting tinea?

Tinea can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or indirectly through towels, clothes or floors. Tinea is also known as ringworm, which is a misleading name as no worm is involved. All fungi need warm, moist environments and tinea is no exception.

Can tinea versicolor spread to your face?

Symptoms of tinea versicolor include small, flat, round or oval spots that may, over time, form patches. The spots occur on oily areas of skin on the upper chest, back, or upper arms or, less often, on the upper thighs, neck, or face.

What happens if tinea is left untreated?

If not treated, the skin can become irritated and painful. Skin blisters and cracks can become infected with bacteria and require antibiotics. Ringworm can also spread to other parts of the body, including the feet, nails, scalp, or beard. After treatment, the rash will go away.

What does tinea versicolor look like?

Tinea versicolor appears as many white, pink, salmon-colored, tan, or brown patches ranging in size from 1–3 cm. The individual lesions can join together to form large patches. Most lesions have a very fine, dust-like outer skin material (scale).

Can hot showers cause tinea versicolor?

Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus. This fungus lives all around us, including on the skin. Normally, regular washing and showering removes dead skin and fungi (more than one fungus). But in hot and humid weather, such as during the summer or in tropical areas, fungi may grow more rapidly.

What is the fastest way to get rid of tinea versicolor?

Body washing with dandruff shampoos containing selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue), pyrithione zinc (Head & Shoulders, Soothe), and ketoconazole (Nizoral) may help the tinea versicolor clear faster and stay away longer. In the past, some have recommended application of shampoos for overnight use.

Does sweating cause tinea versicolor?

Tinea Versicolor Causes But these things can trigger an overgrowth that causes the infection: Oily skin. Living in a hot climate. Sweating a lot.