22/12/2023
ULOTA HAS NOTIHING TO DO WITH POOR HYGIENE AND IS NOT CONTAGIOUS. READ MORE.
This is Tinea Versicolor also known as pityriasis Versicolor. It’s a fungal infection caused by a type of yeast infection called Malassezia.
Common local names ULOTA(Bemba), CINTAMBWE(Tonga), & MBANGASHWA(Lozi).
When the fungus grows out of control, the skin disease, which appears as a rash, is the result.
We don't know WHY some people are more prone to the fungu overgrowing.
The infection may happen for any of the following reasons:
👉You have oily skin
👉You live in a hot climate
👉You sweat a lot
👉You have a weakened immune system
👉 using Corticosteroid medicines(e.g clobetasol, betamethasone, hydrocortisone cream etc)
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻, 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦
The condition can affect people of any skin color.
𝘾𝘼𝙐𝙎𝙀𝙎
An acidic bleach product from the growing fungus causes areas of skin to be a different color than the skin around them. These can be individual spots or patches.
𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙎 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙎𝙔𝙈𝙋𝙏𝙊𝙈𝙎
Specific signs and symptoms of the infection include:
👉Patches that may be white, pink, red, or brown and can be lighter or darker than the skin around them.
👉Spots that do not tan (change due to the direct sunlight) the way the rest of your skin does.
👉Spots that may occur anywhere on your body but are most commonly seen on your neck, chest, back, and arms.
The spots may disappear during cool weather and get worse during warm and humid weather. They may be dry and scaly and may itch or hurt, although this is not common.
𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙂𝙉𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙎
Your healthcare provider can diagnose tinea versicolor by just looking at the lesions and sometimes use ultraviolet light, which will make the affected areas appear a fluorescent yellow-green if they're the result of tinea versicolor.
Your doctor may also take a skin sample by scraping some skin and scales from the affected area to look at under a microscope.
With children, the doctor may lift off skin cells by first firmly attaching clear tape to the affected area and then removing it. The sample then can be stuck directly onto a slide to be looked at with a microscope.
𝙏𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏
Treatment of tinea versicolor can consist of creams, lotions, or shampoos that are put on the skin. It can also include medication given as pills. The type of treatment will depend on the size, location, and thickness of the infected area.
𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚;
👉Topical anti-fungals. These products are applied directly to your skin and may be in the form of lotion, shampoo, cream, foam, or soap. They keep the growth of the fungus under control.
👉Anti-fungal pills. These may be used to treat more serious or recurrent cases of tinea versicolor. Or in some cases they may be used because they can provide a simpler and quicker resolution of the infection
Treatment usually eliminates the fungal infection. However, the discoloration of the skin may take up to several months to resolve.
Be aggressive from the start and use treatment religiously. Apply the cream every morning & night for at least 2-4 weeks.
𝙇𝙄𝙁𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙔𝙇𝙀 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙂𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏.
Recurrent episodes are very common because the fungus that causes the infection is a normal fungus that lives on skin.
Here are some tips to help you manage tinea versicolor:
👉Avoid using oily skin products.
👉Reduce your exposure to the sun. Exposure to the sun may trigger or worsen an episode, and a tan makes the rash more visible.
👉If you have to go out in the sun, consider using an anti-fungal shampoo daily for a couple of days prior to sun exposure.
👉Put on sunscreen every day. Use a broad spectrum, non-greasy formula with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.
👉Do not wear tight clothing.
👉Wear breathable fabrics, such as cotton, to decrease sweating.
Speak to your Healthcare or send us a DM & we will assist.
Your Caring Pharmacist.
