Tinea versicolor can cause widespread, lighter lesions (hypopigmented). Tinea versicolor features lighter (hypopigmented), flat lesions with a very fine scale. This image displays the flat and minimally scaly, well-defined light and dark lesions typical of tinea versicolor. This image displays widespread, slightly elevated lesions due to a severe case of tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor is a yeast infection, typically on the upper chest and back, which includes widespread areas of color change that are slightly scaly. This image displays widespread, slightly elevated, scaly lesions on the back. This image displays darkened, fine, scaling lesions that are flat on the surface of the skin. This image displays a typical location of tinea versicolor, the bend in the elbow. This image displays multiple circular, lighter, slightly scaling areas running into each other typical of tinea versicolor. This image displays a close-up of tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor extends from the trunk to the neck in this young man.
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Tinea Versicolor:
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Picture of Tinea Versicolor: Tinea versicolor can cause widespread, lighter lesions (hypopigmented). Divider line
Tinea versicolor can cause widespread, lighter lesions (hypopigmented).
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Signs and Symptoms
The most common locations for tinea versicolor include:
  • Chest and upper back
  • Upper arms
  • Abdomen
  • Neck
  • Thighs
Tinea versicolor appears as multiple white, pink, salmon-colored, tan, or brown patches ranging in size from 1–3 cm. The individual patches can join together to form large patches. Most patches have a very fine, dust-like layer of skin material (scale).

The yeast gives off (secretes) a substance that temporarily bleaches the underlying skin to a lighter color. Even after the infection has gone away, the spots may be visible as lighter (hypopigmented) patches, which may not get their normal color back for many months. Furthermore, these hypopigmented spots do not tan normally. The hypopigmented areas are more obvious in darker-skinned people.

Tinea versicolor does not usually cause any symptoms, though some people report minor itching, especially when they get sweaty.
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2008

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