Tinea Versicolor (Synonyms: Pityriasis Versicolor; Chromophytosis.)

Tinea Versicolor (Synonyms: Pityriasis Versicolor; Chromophytosis.)

What is tinea versicolor?

Tinea versicolor is a vegetable-parasitic disease of the skin, characterized by variously-sized and shaped, slightly scaly, macular patches of a yellowish-fawn color, and occurring for the most part upon the upper portion of the trunk.

Describe the symptoms of tinea versicolor.

The disease begins as one or more yellowish macular points; these, in the course of weeks or months, gradually extend, and, together with other patches that arise, may form a more or less continuous sheet of eruption. There is slight scaliness, always insignificant and furfuraceous in character, and at times, except upon close inspection, scarcely perceptible. The color of the patches is pale or brownish-yellow; in rare instances, in those of delicate skin, there may be more or less hyperæmia, and in consequence the eruption is of a reddish tinge. The number of patches varies; there may be but a few, or, on the other hand, a profusion. Slight itching, especially when the parts are warm, is usually present.

Does the eruption of tinea versicolor show predilection for any special region?

Yes; the upper part of the trunk, especially anteriorly, is the usual seat of the eruption, but in exceptional instances the neck, axillæ, the arms, the whole trunk, the genitocrural region and poplitea, and in rare cases even the lower part of the face, may become invaded.

What course does tinea versicolor pursue?

Persistent, but somewhat variable; as a rule, however, slowly progressive and lasting for years.

To what is tinea versicolor due?

To a vegetable fungus—the microsporon furfur. The affection is tolerably common, and occurs in all parts of the world. With rare exceptions, it is a disease of adults, and while looked upon as contagious, must be so to an extremely slight degree.

What is the pathology?

The fungus, consisting of mycelium and spores, the latter showing a marked tendency to aggregate, invades the superficial portion of the epidermis.

Is tinea versicolor readily diagnosticated?

Yes; if the color, peculiar characters and distribution of the eruption are kept in mind.

It is not to be confounded with vitiligo, chloasma, or the macular syphiloderm. If in doubt, have recourse to the microscope.

State the method of examination for fungus.

The scrapings are taken from a patch, moistened with liquor potassæ, and examined with a power of three to five hundred diameters.

State the prognosis of tinea versicolor.

With proper management the disease is readily curable. Relapses are not uncommon.

What is the treatment of tinea versicolor?

It consists in daily washing with soap and hot water (and in obstinate cases with sapo viridis instead of the ordinary soap) and application of a lotion of—sulphite or hyposulphite of sodium, a drachm to the ounce; sulphurous acid, pure or diluted; carbolic acid, or resorcin, ten to twenty grains to the ounce of water and alcohol; or corrosive sublimate, one to three grains to the ounce of water. Sulphur and ammoniated-mercury ointments are also serviceable. The following used alone, simply as a soap, or in conjunction with a lotion, is often of special value:—

  ℞ Sulphur, præcip., ................................ ʒiv
Saponis viridis, ................................. ʒxii. M.

After the disease is apparently cured, an occasional remedial application should be made for several months, in order to guard against the possibility of a relapse.