Perioral Dermatitis Treatment
Advanced Treatment for Perioral Dermatitis in the San Diego Area
Dr. Melanie Palm is a nationally recognized dermatologist and expert in the treatment of cosmetic and medical skin conditions. Dr. Palm is a noted leader in her field and offers effective treatment options for tinea versicolor. Her offices are located in Solana Beach, CA just north of San Diego.
What is Tinea Versicolor?
Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, most commonly appears as darker or lighter flaky oval or round skin patches on the chest, back, upper trunk, or abdomen. It affects approximately 2-8% of the population and occurs more frequently in warm, humid climates. The condition may be itchy, especially with showering or exercise. It is not contagious but seems to be more common in younger patients.
What Causes Tinea Versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is due to an overgrowth of Malassezia furfur, a normal form of yeast found on the skin. In some individuals, this yeast overgrows, causing a characteristic rash. The yeast affects how our skin produces pigment, and therefore can either increase or decrease the skin color in affected patches on the skin. The yeast cannot be completely eliminated forever in an individual but can be well controlled with proper treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Perioral Dermatitis?
The rash associated with tinea versicolor can appear in several different forms. Common features of tinea versicolor include the following:
- Hypo- (light) or hyper- (brown) oval-shaped spots on the skin
- Flaking of skin in areas of rash
- Redness or increased pinkness to affected areas of the skin, especially when skin is warmed
- Itchiness (not always present)
What are the Treatment Options for Tinea Versicolor?
Tinea versicolor can be easily treated with appropriate antifungal topical or oral therapy but may recur if maintenance therapy is not used. Antifungal creams and foams can be highly effective, especially prescription-strength preparations that end in “-azole” and often require only once daily use.
Sulfur washes, zinc-based soaps (including zinc pyrithione containing shampoos such as Head & Shoulders), and ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral shampoo) can be helpful in treating active tinea versicolor outbreaks as well as for maintaining clearance from the rash.
In severe cases of tinea versicolor, an oral antifungal may be used in “pulse” therapy to more effectively obtain control of tinea versicolor. Oral therapy is often combined with topical therapy. Effective treatment of the yeast causing tinea versicolor will lead to a decrease in redness, flaking, and itching of the rash. However, discoloration of the skin may take several weeks to months to improve.
If you are looking for a dermatologist to treat tinea versicolor in the San Diego area, call Dr. Melanie Palm at 858.792.SKIN (7546) to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options.
