The warmer the weather, the worse this condition gets. Tanning booths are warm places, so avoid them. The reasons why some get this problem and others do not are not known. A dermatologist can easily recognize this infection, but occasionally it can be mistaken for other skin conditions.
Apparently, the top dollar employees at the tanning salons sometimes do not clean the tanning beds properly, and when other people's sweat absorbs into your skin it can cause skin fungus. SO GROSS!
What causes tinea versicolor? An overgrowth of yeast on your skin's surface causes tinea versicolor. This yeast thrives in warm, moist and oily environments, causing it to grow out of control in small colonies. These yeast colonies cause the symptoms of tinea versicolor.
HOW DO I MANAGE MY TINEA VERSICOLOR? Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun and do not use indoor tanning beds. A tan makes tinea versicolor easier to see and prevents your skin tone from evening out.
Given the direct contact of the skin of tanning salon patrons with the tanning bed surfaces tested, a concern for pathogen transmission and cutaneous infection is real.
Sun Spots: Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH)
They are completely harmless. What causes these small white spots on skin is simply a result of a lack of melanin. Why the skin stops producing melanin is still not 100% certain, but it's thought to be due to extended sun exposure.
Tinea versicolor and vitiligo are two skin conditions that can look similar but have different causes and treatments. If you have light or discolored patches on your skin, your health care provider can figure out what's behind them and recommend a treatment that can help clear up your skin.
For a mild case of tinea versicolor, you can apply an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream, ointment or shampoo. Most fungal infections respond well to these topical agents, which include: Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF) cream or lotion.
Sun exposure can worsen Tinea Versicolor. Dermatologists often advise avoiding prolonged sun exposure and may recommend specific sunscreens or protective measures to prevent exacerbation.
Stop using skin care products that are oily. Wear loose clothes. Protect your skin from the sun.
You might have fungal sweat rash if you notice:
A red rash with scaling around the edge. Sore or stinging skin. Itchy or burning skin. Broken skin (in the space between fingers or toes)
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil has antifungal properties and can help combat the fungal infection causing tinea versicolor. Applying coconut oil to the affected areas can help moisturize the skin, reduce dryness, and prevent fungal growth.
Factors that may predispose to tinea versicolor include heat and humidity and immunosuppression due to corticosteroids, pregnancy, undernutrition, diabetes, or other disorders. Hypopigmentation in tinea versicolor is due to the inhibition of tyrosinase caused by M. furfur.
Photodamage can't be completely reversed but some treatment options can help rejuvenate your skin. Talk to your provider about the risks of complications. Possible treatments include: Retinoids, retinols: These topical products provide their best benefit when treating early signs of photoaging.
Antifungal washes including zinc pyrithione soap, sulfur salicylic acid shampoo, and Selsun Blue (selenium sulfide) shampoo are also used to treat mild cases of tinea versicolor.
Alternative Approach for Tinea Versicolor
Cleansing twice daily and immediately after perspiring with an exfoliant like a mandelic acid wash or sulfur soap (both of which are anti-fungal ingredients) and a net sponge to exfoliate the uppermost fungus-infected epidermal cells.
Tinea versicolor can sometimes go away with treatment. But if you don't use proper antifungal treatment, the patches can take several months to return to their normal color. Untreated tinea versicolor can also increase your risk of experiencing repeat infections.
You might notice those patches flaring up in the heat or humidity. They stand out when your skin is exposed to the sun because the infected patches don't change color with sunburns or tanning. Anyone can get tinea versicolor, and experts aren't sure why some people are more prone to it than others.
People who have a weakened immune system are generally more prone to infections, so they are also more likely to develop tinea versicolor. The immune system may be weakened by things like certain types of cancer or medication that suppresses the immune system – for instance, following an organ transplant.
Pityriasis versicolor, or tinea versicolor, is a common, benign, superficial fungal skin infection. The causative organism, yeast from the genus Malassezia, is part of the normal skin flora.
In a controlled trial that included 40 patients with tinea versicolor, zinc pyrithione 1% shampoo applied for five minutes per day for two weeks was more effective than shampoo vehicle [45].
Skin fungus
While it is not precisely clear how often fungus is contracted from tanning beds, and although many tanning salons have strict sanitation procedures, it is worth checking with your doctor if notice any suspicious white spots on the skin.
Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.
“If the incredibly increased risk of skin cancer and premature aging wasn't enough to curb your use of tanning beds there have been studies that show that bacteria like staphylococcus, pseudomonas, and others like fecal bacteria have been found in tanning beds as well as viruses like Herpes (cold sore)and papilloma ( ...