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. Itโs 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:
๐You have oily skin
๐You live in a hot climate
๐You sweat a lot
๐You have a weakened immune system
๐ using Corticosteroid medicines(e.g clobetasol, betamethasone, hydrocortisone cream etc)
๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐ป๐ด๐๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ป, ๐ง๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ง๐๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ
The condition can affect people of any skin color.
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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.
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Specific signs and symptoms of the infection include:
๐Patches that may be white, pink, red, or brown and can be lighter or darker than the skin around them.
๐Spots that do not tan (change due to the direct sunlight) the way the rest of your skin does.
๐Spots 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.
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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.
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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.
๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐;
๐Topical 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.
๐Anti-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.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
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:
๐Avoid using oily skin products.
๐Reduce your exposure to the sun. Exposure to the sun may trigger or worsen an episode, and a tan makes the rash more visible.
๐If you have to go out in the sun, consider using an anti-fungal shampoo daily for a couple of days prior to sun exposure.
๐Put on sunscreen every day. Use a broad spectrum, non-greasy formula with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.
๐Do not wear tight clothing.
๐Wear breathable fabrics, such as cotton, to decrease sweating.
Speak to your Healthcare or send us a DM & we will assist.
Your Caring Pharmacist.
