tinea versicolor?

Question

Any suggestions on how to get rid of tinea versicolor? I've tried tea trea oil with NO effect. Selenium sulfide (sulfate?) shampoo gets rid of it temporarily, but it comes right back (it takes months for the spot to go away, and reappear, though). Are there any dietery changes that might help? I'm starting to include kefir in my diet, perhaps the beneficial yeasts will keep it in check. What do you think?
I've been to two dermatologists. they say, "Not contagious, don't worry about it."

Answer 1

All the answers are basically correct but I have another important piece of the puzzle. You can take oral anti-fungal pills like one answerer suggested, you can use selenium sulfide shampoos but you must realize something. Tinea versicolor is everywhere. Some people's immunes systems just don't recognize this form of yeast as "foreign" and therefore don't fight it! The research shows that people like you are able/willing to live in "harmony" with this form of yeast. You will need to treat yourself about once every 9 - 12 months with one of those anti-fungal pills (like fluconazole) and then use selsun blue whenever you use a shampoo. Just rub it on your skin in the shower and let it sit undisturbed for 5 full minutes. You will get better if you work hard enough at it. Good luck.

Answer 2

This i got from the website. Well, as far as I know yeast develops over time if not treated right. Treatment of Tinea Versicolor with Topical Antifungals
Topical antifungal medications are the treatment of choice for tinea versicolor. The following topical antifungal treatment regimens have been shown to produce a greater than 70% clinical response rate:

2% Ketoconazole cream applied once daily for 11-22 days
2% Ketoconazole shampoo regimen (lathered over affected and surrounding areas and left on for at least 5 minutes before rinsing) applied once daily for 3 consecutive days
1% Terbinafine solution applied twice daily for 1 week
1% Clotrimazole solution applied once daily for 1 week
Treatment of Tinea Versicolor with Oral Antifungals
Oral antifungal medications can cause side effects such as nausea or reversible liver damage, but these side effects are not common with the short courses of therapy used for tinea versicolor.



Oral griseofulvin and oral terbinafine are not effective treatments for tinea versicolor. The following oral treatment regimens have been shown to produce a greater than 70% clinical response rate:
Itraconazole 200mg every other day for 7 days
Ketoconazole 400mg single dose
Fluconazole 400mg single dose
Fluconazole 150mg or 300mg weekly for 4 weeks
Treatment of Tinea Versicolor with Dandruff Shampoos
Until recently, dandruff shampoos were the mainstay of treatment for tinea versicolor. They are less effective than the antifungal medications and can cause skin irritation, but they are available over the counter and are less expensive. The following regimens have been shown to be effective:

Sulfur-salicyclic acid shampoo applied nightly as a lotion for 1 week
Zinc-pyrithione shampoo regimen (applied daily as a lotion and left on for 5 minutes before rinsing) for 2 weeks
Selenium sulfide 2.5% lotion regimen (applied daily as a lotion and left on for 10 minutes before rinsing) for 1 week

Answer 3

What is that? I have heard of tinea capitis, tinea corporis and a few others but not that.