Tinea versicolor

[Britney]

Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection of the topmost layer of the skin causing scaly, discolored patches.

This infection is caused by a type of fungus.
Typically, people have scaly patches of skin.
The diagnosis is based on appearance and skin scrapings.
This infection often returns.
Antifungal skin products, shampoos, and sometimes drugs taken by mouth are used to treat the infection.

(See also Overview of Fungal Skin Infections.)
The infection is caused by Malassezia furfur and is quite common, especially among young adults. Malassezia furfur is a type of fungus that can exist as both a yeast and a mold. Yeast and mold are terms that are used to describe what the fungus looks like under a microscope.
Malassezia furfur is typically harmless and normally lives on the skin but in some people causes tinea versicolor. Most affected people are healthy. Some people may be genetically predisposed to overgrowth of this fungus.
Other risk factors for tinea versicolor include heat and humidity and an immune system weakened by corticosteroid use, pregnancy, undernutrition, diabetes, or other disorders.
Tinea versicolor is a mild infection and is not considered contagious.