Skin is one of the largest organs of our body and the first line of defense against a number of harmful germs and bacteria. But sadly it is also one of the most neglected parts of our body in terms of hygiene.

High humidity, hot weather and oily skin are the natural magnets inviting a lot of skin infections. It is a common skin problem caused by the fungus Malassezia furfur (previously known as Pityrosporum). The visual signs of this condition are patches of discolored skin with fine scales occurring mostly on your back, underarms, upper arms, chest and neck. The condition is not an alarming disease but it is highly contagious and thus needs to be cared for. Some people find it very disturbing because of the visible spots on their skin affecting their level of self confidence.

Appearance

Tinea versicolor is observed as small scaly patches of discolored skin scattered over the upper arms, chest and back. Sometimes it may also appear on the neck and face. The patches grow slowly and tend to be more noticeable after being exposed to the sun. When you go out in the sun, the exposed parts acquire the tan but the patches covered by the fungal growth do not darken. The patches thus stand out as lighter spots on your healthy skin. The excess yeast on the skin interferes with the normal pigmentation.

The patches can be of various colors like white, pink, tan or dark brown depending on your natural skin color. On dark skin the spot would appear lighter while on the light skin the spots would appear darker. The discoloration however is more prominent in people with dark skin but it does not mean that it only affects dark skinned people. It can affect anyone, regardless of their skin color.