Looking Fit 07/2004: Understanding Tinea Versicolor

On The Spot
Understanding Tinea Versicolor

One of the most common questions fielded by staff at the National Tanning Training Institute is how to handle customers who complain of white spots. To best handle this occasional occurrence, a salon professional must have a thorough understanding of these annoying little patches called tinea versicolor.

TINEA VERSICOLOR is a common overgrowth of skin-surface yeast, or fungus, often found among young adults. This overgrowth results in uneven skin color with occasional scaling that can sometimes itch. This naturally occurring yeast normally lives in the pores of everyone’s skin and occasionally ventures into oily areas such as the neck, upper chest and back.

Mild rashes that are symptomatic of tinea versicolor can have small white, pink or dark spots. In most cases, the spots are scattered over the upper arms, chest and back and may sometimes appear on the neck, face and even lower extremities. On lightskinned individuals, these areas may appear as faint pink spots. Tinea versicolor grows slowly and works as a type of sunblock, which keeps the infected areas from tanning. As a customer’s tan develops, an area of the skin with the fungus will become more noticeable, especially on individuals with Skin Type 4 and above. When an occurrence happens on the face and neck, it can be quite troubling for the client.

Tinea versicolor primarily affects teen-agers or younger adults. Although highly unusual, occasionally older clients may experience bouts with this type of surface yeast. Also, dark- and light-skinned individuals are equally prone to its development, though customers with darker tans may notice it more readily.

Doctors don’t yet understand why certain people are affected by tinea versicolor. Since the yeast responsible for this skin occurrence is normally present on everyone’s skin, each person has the potential to develop an overgrowth. Under normal conditions, the yeast grows slowly enough that routine washing and bathing removes the yeast along with dead skin cells.

In regions of the country with continuous heat and humidity such as Florida and Hawaii, tanners may notice these spots year-round. On average, those living in more seasonal climates notice the spots fading in cooler and drier months.

Although the yeast that causes tinea versicolor usually grows on the skin continuously, the overgrowth of the yeast can be controlled with topical or oral medications. In extreme cases, doctors may prescribe several oral medications, but successful treatment usually is limited to special cleansers including some shampoos, creams or lotions applied directly to the skin.

Many people experiencing tinea versicolor have great success by using several home remedies. It is important to note that indoor tanning professionals are not qualified to diagnosis or treat medical disorders unless they also possess appropriate credentials.

The Health Center at the University of Maryland—through www.inform.umd.edu — suggests Selsun Blue as an inexpensive treatment option for tinea versicolor. The site offers the following as a treatment regime:

• After a cleaning shower, apply 2.5-percent selenium sulfide shampoo (Selsun Blue) to the affected areas, leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse off.
• Repeat this process seven nights in a row, then once a week for four weeks, then every three months to prevent recurrence.

No matter what treatment plan a client is on for tinea versicolor, it can take weeks or months for the skin to regain its normal color or for the untanned areas of the skin to match the beautiful golden tan acquired in the salon. Bronzers or self-tanners can be a way to help blend in these untanned spots until the natural tanning process has a chance to darken the skin.