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The spots on the skin and fungi.
In the summer, skin infections caused by fungi are greatly increased. Tinea versicolor is a non-contagious skin condition that can cause aesthetic alterations due to the different shades of skin pigmentation, “stains”.
This condition is very common and is caused by a fungus, Malassezia spp, part of the normal flora of skin of approximately 50% of people living in temperate zones and 90% of those living in tropical areas. Let us stress that the incidence of disease in these regions is approximately 50% and the population of the temperate zones of 10%.
Dr. Jorge Luis Finquelievich, Director of the Center for Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, explains that “pityriasis versicolor is a disease caused by changes in sebum secretion, which increases the concentration certain kinds of fatty acids that stimulate the growth of the fungus.
It is manifested by the appearance of spots (macules) of different sizes, covered by a thin peeling of various colors ranging from pinkish white to dark brown. These spots are located mainly in the chest, the root of the upper limbs and neck should also clarify that the itching is a common symptom but low frequency. In general, tinea versicolor is diagnosed when the sun began to expose or leave it. We stress that occurs frequently in adolescents and young adults, due to increased activity of the sebaceous glands.
What predisposes us getting it?
- “The predisposition to disease development is related to changes in sebum secretion, which may be increased in patients with diabetes, pregnant women and people with nutritional deficiencies. Do not forget that there are genetic factors predisposing to disease development.
They are also more likely to suffer from pityriasis versicolor patients receiving treatment with corticosteroids, patients with AIDS and undergoing suppression therapy to prevent rejection of organ transplants in them, injuries are more extensive and are located in non-traditional areas ”
Can I prevent tinea versicolor?
- “Prevention is difficult and is based on reducing the excess moisture and sweat secretion. Soaps sulfur or other keratolytic agents are effective for the prevention effect. ”
THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD DIAGNOSIS
The presence of spots after sun exposure, chest, neck and upper limbs following should alert people to a consultation with a dermatologist. With regard to diagnosis, explains Dr. Finquelievich “Because there are skin diseases that may mimic this disease, it is imperative to practice a mycological examination, by microscopic observation of fungus (Malassezia spp). This study is not painful and the sample is obtained simply by scaling of the lesions. Another element commonly used to diagnose the disease is Wood’s light, in which patients with pityriasis versicolor lesions are fluorescent yellow skin. ”
Is Malassezia spp produces other diseases?
- “This fungus is associated with seborrheic all processes. In recent years have shown that patients with severe immune disorders, such as those affected by AIDS, developed pustular lesions that are called Malassezia folliculitis. Another condition, very rare, caused by this fungus is in newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care units, because this fungus can colonize the skin of more than 30% of these children can cause contamination of the catheters who carry them and most serious infections occur. The fungus enters your bloodstream and can cause sepsis in babies. ”
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT
“The treatment of pityriasis versicolor can be done both locally and orally. The oral treatment with itraconazole, ketoconazole and other azole drugs have proved effective and reduced the reappearance of the disease.” Says Dr. Finquelievich
Between 30 and 50% of patients suffering from this disease are repeated for long periods. The subsequent prophylactic treatment with low doses of these drugs by mouth reduces the possibility that these spots appear again as undesirable.
Claudia Argentina Lombardi is a journalist specializing in the health area. Working in the newspaper La Prensa in Argentina.