Treatment Alternatives For Pityriasis Versicolor

If you’re wondering about those uneven patches on your skin, those which appear at the first sign of summer, don’t worry; they may just be a symptom of a skin condition known as pityriasis versicolor. This is an overgrowth of Pityrosporum orbiculare, a variety of yeast fungus which thrives on warm climates, but is relatively harmless and non-contagious. If you perspire a lot or if you have very oily skin, the presence of the patches may be even more profuse than normal. Everyone acquires the fungus at least once in their lives, but fortunately the condition is very much treatable with the appropriate methods.

Topical applications of antifungal medication like selenium sulfide, allylamine, sodium sulfacetamide, azole, and ciclopiroxolamine are effective if administered in the proper dosages. Liberal applications of selenium sulfide on the affected areas on a daily basis, for a treatment course of two weeks, are enough to get rid of the outbreak. Leave the application on the skin for ten minutes before rinsing it off; if the symptoms persist, overnight applications may be necessary. Topical azole may be administered every night for two weeks, and weekly applications of the other agents for a course of several months can help prevent the outbreak from recurring.

Oral forms of therapy are equally as effective, and have the advantage of being expedient and less time-consuming. They work best if they are taken as complementing treatments to topical methods. Ketoconazole may be administered either through a ten-day daily intake of 200mg doses, or a single-dose therapy of 400mg. Fluconazole are effectively administered through a weekly single-dose intake of 150-300mg, taken over the treatment course of up to four weeks. Itraconazole is administered in daily doses of 200mg, for a treatment period of one week. The potency of such drugs may be enhanced if you work up a sweat an hour after taking them, as the medication tends to pass out through the skin pores. Avoid taking a shower after a few hours of the intake.

Oral therapy is rather ineffective in preventing the recurrence of the outbreak, and maintenance treatments of oral-form ketoconazole, or any of the topical agents previously mentioned, may be necessary to prevent a regrowth. Although pityriasis versicolor is a non-malignant condition, the fungus can thrive and survive throughout the year; and since oral therapy can contraindicate with some drugs and health conditions, the decision to undergo treatment through oral methods must be made after thorough consideration of the possible involved risks. A regular monthly regimen of the oral antifungals ketoconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole are clinically-proven preventive medications for future recurrence.

The pink and brown varieties of the condition dissipate thoroughly after treatment, but the outbreak usually recurs if conducive conditions for proliferation are present. The pale variety clears up, and the skin tone evens out gradually with sun exposure. It is not known as to why white marks persist on the skin even after the causes for it have long disappeared, and in spite of regular sun exposure. Antifungal therapies for such a case may unfortunately be non-beneficial.

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