eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Fungal Infections

Tinea Versicolor: Follow-up

Author: Craig G Burkhart, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ohio State University College of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Lorie Gottwald, MD, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo; Craig N Burkhart, MD, MSBS, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 25, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Tinea versicolor has a high rate of recurrence, and prophylactic treatment with topical or oral therapy on an intermittent basis is necessary to prevent recurrences in most cases.

Prognosis

  • Although tinea versicolor is recurrent for some patients and, therefore, a chronic disease, the condition remains treatable with the available remedies (see Medical Care and Medication). Thus, the prognosis is excellent.

Patient Education

  • Patients need to realize that tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus that is normally present on the skin surface; thus, it is not considered a contagious disease. Sequelae from the disease are not permanent, and any pigmentary alterations resolve entirely 1-2 months after treatment is initiated. Treatment is needed to remedy the condition and for prophylaxis to prevent recurrences.
 


More on Tinea Versicolor

Overview: Tinea Versicolor
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Tinea Versicolor
Treatment & Medication: Tinea Versicolor
Follow-up: Tinea Versicolor
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

tinea versicolor, pityriasis versicolor, chromophytosis, dermatomycosis furfuracea, tinea flava, aeromia parasitica, Kleinenflechte, Hodi-Potsy, cutaneous fungal infection, hypopigmented macules, hyperpigmented macules, Malassezia furfur, , Pityrosporon orbiculare, Pityrosporon ovale, Malassezia ovalis, Cushing disease

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Craig G Burkhart, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Ohio State University College of Medicine
Craig G Burkhart, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Ohio State Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Lorie Gottwald, MD, Chief, Division of Dermatology, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo
Lorie Gottwald, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Student Association/Foundation, and American Medical Women's Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Craig N Burkhart, MD, MSBS, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Craig N Burkhart, MD, MSBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Vermont College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Division of Dermatology, Fletcher Allen Health Care
Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, American Dermatological Association, Dermatology Foundation, Medical Dermatology Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Edward F Chan, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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