- Dermatology Unit, Conditions
Pitiriasis
What is
What is Pityriasis?
Pityriasis manifests itself as white patches on the skin in summer: Pityriasis Versicolor or pityriasis Alba . The white spots on the skin that appear when we are tanned can have different causes:
They may be small lesions caused by fungal infections (pityriasis versicolor),
They may be ill-defined irregular spots on tanned skin (pityriasis alba or dartros).
Information
What is pityriasis versicolor?
It is a superficial skin infection caused by the increased proliferation of a fungus that normally inhabits healthy skin called Malassezzia furfur, for this reason it is not considered an infectious disease.
How does it manifest itself?
Pityriasis versicolor is characterized by the appearance of irregular patches that initially may be brownish in color with a fine scaling on the surface, which later usually fade and remain as white patches on the skin.
The location
The usual location of these lesions is the upper trunk, neck and root of the arms. The white spots on the skin left by this entity are more visible in summer due to the contrast with the surrounding tanned skin.
Who is affected?
Pityriasis versicolor usually affects young people and/or adolescents, although it can affect any age group, and has a predilection for humid and warm environments, so it is more frequent in the summer months.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis is essentially clinical, and can be established by any experienced dermatologist. In addition, in case of doubt, the skin can be scraped and the detached scales can be observed under the microscope, so that if the characteristic images in “spaghetti and meat” are observed, the diagnosis is confirmed. A laboratory culture can also confirm the presence of this fungus, although the result is delayed for several days.
What is the treatment?
Treatment consists of applying topical antifungals for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. In patients with very frequent outbreaks or who do not achieve improvement with topical treatment, a course of oral treatment may be performed. It is important to know that with the treatment the white spots on the skin do not disappear immediately.
The white spots on the skin improve after a few months once the excessive proliferation of the fungus has been eliminated.
What is pityriasis alba?
It is a skin alteration that manifests itself in the form of hypopigmentation and is usually observed with the onset of tanning.
What is the cause and who is affected?
Its cause is unknown, although it has been seen more frequently in pediatric age and in patients with atopic dermatitis. It is believed that its appearance is related to dryness and irritation of the skin, which does not pigment homogeneously with sun exposure.
How does it manifest itself?
It usually appears as white patches on the skin with poorly defined borders and variable size, usually located on the arms, legs and face.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is clinical, based on physical examination and patient history.
What is the treatment?
It is essential to keep the skin moisturized and protect it from the sun with high protection sunscreens. It is also advisable to use detergent-free soaps that do not dry out the skin.
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