Skin conditions

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Pityriasis versicolor – what are the signs and symptoms?

Pityriasis versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor, sometimes called tinea versicolor, is a common condition that causes small patches of skin to become scaly and discoloured.

The patches may be darker or lighter than your normal skin colour, or may be red or pink. They tend to develop gradually and may join up to form larger patches over time.

The areas most often affected by pityriasis versicolor include the trunk (chest and tummy), neck, upper arms and back.

Although it may look unpleasant and the patches are sometimes itchy, pityriasis versicolor is harmless. You may still want to see your GP, as it usually only improves with treatment.

Your GP can normally diagnose pityriasis versicolor by examining your skin.

Why it happens

Pityriasis versicolor is caused by a type of yeast called Malassezia. This yeast is found on the skin of over 90% of adults, where it normally lives without causing any problems.

However, pityriasis versicolor can develop if this yeast starts to multiply more than usual. It’s not clear exactly why this happens in some people and not in others.

Several factors can increase your risk of developing pityriasis versicolor, including:

living or staying in a warm, moist environment, including the UK, in the summer

sweating excessively (hyperhidrosis)

having naturally oily skin

being a teenager or in your early 20s

Pityriasis versicolor isn’t related to poor hygiene. The condition can’t be spread from person to person, because most people already have the Malassezia yeast on their skin.

It’s estimated that around 1 in every 100 people in the UK has pityriasis versicolor.

How pityriasis versicolor is treated

Pityriasis versicolor can be treated with antifungal medicines. These are available as shampoos, creams and tablets.

Antifungal shampoos

Antifungal shampoos (such as ketoconazole or selenium sulphide shampoo) are often the first treatment recommended for pityriasis versicolor. These are available to buy over the counter from pharmacies, or your GP can prescribe them.

In most cases, these shampoos need to be applied to the affected areas of skin and left for 5 to 10 minutes before being rinsed off. This usually needs to be repeated every day for 5 to 7 days.

You may experience some skin irritation or a burning sensation when using these shampoos, particularly selenium sulphide. It may be helpful to dilute the shampoo with water before applying it. Some people also find the odour of selenium sulphide shampoo unpleasant.

Antifungal creams and tablets

If only small areas of skin are affected, your GP may prescribe an antifungal cream. These creams usually need to be applied to the affected area of skin once or twice a day for several weeks. Some people experience a burning sensation when they use these antifungal creams, but this is uncommon.

If a large area of skin is affected, or other treatments haven’t helped, you may be prescribed antifungal tablets. These usually need to be taken once a day for one to four weeks. Side effects of these tablets are uncommon, although some people experience problems such as rashes, feeling sick and abdominal (tummy) pain while taking them.

Outlook

Overall, antifungal shampoos, creams and tablets are effective in killing the yeast that causes pityriasis versicolor. However, it can take several weeks or months for your skin to return to its normal colour and, in more persistent cases, treatment may need to be repeated.

Recurrences

It’s common for pityriasis versicolor to come back after treatment, particularly during the summer or during holidays to warm and humid countries. However, you can reduce this likelihood by regularly using the antifungal shampoos mentioned above.

For example, continuing to use the shampoo once every two to four weeks after the initial treatment, or once a day for a few days before going on holiday, can help to prevent pityriasis versicolor recurring. As these shampoos are available to buy from pharmacies, you don’t need to see your GP for a prescription if you run out.

If you develop pityriasis versicolor again after treatment, you can try treating it yourself with antifungal shampoo, or see your GP for advice and alternative treatments.

If you have frequent and severe episodes of pityriasis versicolor, your GP may consider prescribing antifungal tablets to take a few times a month to prevent the condition reoccurring.

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Pompholyx – what you need to know

Pompholyx

Pompholyx

Dyshidrotic eczema

Introduction

Pompholyx is a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to develop across the fingers, palms of the hands and sometimes the soles of the feet.

It’s also known as dyshidrotic eczema.

Pompholyx can affect people of any age, but it’s most often seen in adults under 40 years of age.

It can sometimes be confused with similar-looking conditions (see below). See your GP if you have any sort of blistering skin condition.

Signs and symptoms of pompholyx

Pompholyx usually starts as intense itching and burning of the skin on the hands and fingers. The palms and sides of the fingers (and sometimes the soles of the feet) then erupt into tiny itchy blisters that may weep fluid.

In severe cases, the blisters may be quite large and may spread to the backs of the hands, feet and limbs.

The skin can sometimes become infected. Signs of an infection can include the blisters becoming very painful and oozing pus or becoming covered in a golden crust.

The blisters will usually heal within a few weeks. The skin tends to become dry and crack or peel as it starts to heal.

What causes pompholyx?

It’s not clear exactly what causes pompholyx, but it may be triggered or made worse by:

a fungal skin infection – this may be on the hands or at a distant site from the blisters (such as in between the toes) and will need treating

a reaction to something that has touched your skin – such as certain metals (particularly nickel), detergents, household chemicals, soap, shampoo, cosmetic products or perfume

stress

sweating – pompholyx is more common in spring and summer, in warmer climates, and in people with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)

How long does it last?

In many cases, pompholyx will clear up on its own within a few weeks. The treatments below may help relieve your symptoms in the meantime.

Sometimes pompholyx may just occur once and never come back, but it often comes and goes over several months or years. Any of the triggers mentioned above can cause it to flare up again.

Occasionally, pompholyx can be more continuous and difficult to treat.

Treatments for pompholyx

Protecting your skin

You should try to avoid contact with anything that might irritate your skin, including soaps, shampoos and other household chemicals.

Use an emollient as a soap substitute (see below) and wear cotton-lined gloves when you’re at risk of contact with other potentially irritating substances, such as when washing your hair or doing housework.

Don’t burst the blisters – let them heal on their own. If they’re particularly big, your GP may be able to drain them.

Treating the symptoms

The main treatments your GP may recommend to treat the symptoms of pompholyx are similar to those used when treating atopic eczema, including:

emollients (moisturisers) – use these all the time and instead of soap to stop your skin becoming dry

steroid cream – this reduces the inflammation and irritation and helps the skin to heal

Your GP will probably prescribe a strong steroid cream to use for a short period of time, to minimise risk of steroid side effects. You may be advised to wear cotton gloves at night to help the cream sink into the skin.

You can also try:

soaking your hands in a dilute solution of potassium permanganate (1:10,000) for 10-15 minutes once or twice a day for up to five days

antihistamines to relieve the itching and help you sleep if the itchiness is keeping you awake at night

These treatments are available from pharmacies without a prescription. Your pharmacist can advise you whether they’re suitable for you and how you should use them.

Antibiotics may be prescribed if your skin becomes infected.

Specialist treatments

If your pompholyx keeps returning or is severe and doesn’t get better with the above treatments, your GP may refer you to a specialist in treating skin conditions (dermatologist).

A dermatologist may recommend one of the following treatments:

phototherapy – controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light

steroid tablets or very strong steroid cream

immunosuppressant creams or ointments, such as pimecrolimus or tacrolimus

immunosuppressant tablets or capsules, such as ciclosporin or azathioprine

alitretinoin capsules – medication that helps improve severe eczema affecting the hands when other treatments haven’t worked

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Look after your skin – great tips

Skin care tips

Skin care tips

Your skin works hard to keep you healthy, and you can return the favour by taking care of it. Here are some tips to help you keep your skin looking and feeling good.

Sun care

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are the main cause of skin ageing and can cause skin cancer.

Sunburn can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer, so it’s important to protect skin against sun damage at any age, but take special care with babies, children and young people.

To help protect yourself:

spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm

cover up with clothes, a hat and sunglasses

use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15

You need to spend some time in sunlight so your body can make vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones.

To find out more about balancing the need for getting vitamin D and protecting your skin from sun damage, see how to get vitamin D from sunlight.

Find out more about sunscreen and sun safety.

Smoking

Smoking is linked to early ageing of the skin. It’s thought smoking reduces the skin’s natural elasticity by causing the breakdown of collagen and reducing collagen production. Collagen is a protein that supports skin strength.

It also reduces blood flow to your skin, so your skin gets fewer nutrients and less oxygen.

Get help to stop smoking.

Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, your body and skin can become dehydrated, leaving the skin looking older and tired. Drinking water can help your skin stay hydrated, preventing it drying out.

When you have alcohol, try to drink within the recommended limits, and have a non-alcoholic drink, such as soda water or fruit juice, between alcoholic drinks.

Washing your skin

Try to use mild soaps or bath oils – too much washing or using harsh soaps can wash away the natural oils that keep our skin healthy.

If you have dry skin, don’t use harsh alcohol-based products as these can irritate skin and dry it out.

Moisturising can help prevent dry skin. If you have oily skin, avoid oil-based products and choose water-based ones instead.

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5 Extremely Useful Things about Nail Care Your Dermatologist Wouldn’t Tell

5 Extremely Useful Things about Nail Care Your Dermatologist Wouldn’t Tell

5 Extremely Useful Things about Nail Care Your Dermatologist Wouldn’t Tell

Though you can surely rely on your dermatologist in terms of taking care of your nails, there are some specific things your dermatologist might not tell you in terms of keeping your nails healthy. Though there are certain useful tips that must be given by the dermatologist in order to help you in keeping the good health of your nails, sometimes he/she may forget to actually mention those to you. Below are some of those things that your dermatologist might not prefer to tell you:

Clipping of Finger Nails

Your dermatologist might not suggest you to clip your nails by yourselves. Too many times it has been observed that self clipping of nails results in uneven shapes and often the result is too short nails. You must keep in mind that though your dermatologist might not insist you to get your nail clipped by others, you must try it whenever it is possible.

Soaking Your Fingers In Warm Water

Moreover, quite interestingly your dermatologist might not tell you not to soak your fingers in warm water before getting into a manicure. Though it may feel nice to soak one’s hands in warm water before getting into the manicure process; water soaking actually bloats the nails, and this bloating results in uneven manicure patterns sometimes. This also prevents any type of nail fungus. Dry manicures last longer but this truth might not be revealed by your dermatologist while you attend him/her for consultation regarding how to keep you nails healthy, fit and fine.

Manicuring Basics

Your dermatologist might also forget to tell you that prior to getting into manicuring you must make sure that your hands are smooth and not hard or rigid. Stiff hands actually are enemies to good nails. If the hand is stiff then it can become tough for an individual to experience a smooth manicuring and this can lead to the decline in the condition of one’s nails. Hence, keeping your hand smooth is the key to success in manicure but this little tip might not be given by your dermatologist.

Excessive Hand Washing is a Strict No!

Hand washing is a good habit and your dermatologist should suggest you to continue with the habit as long as possible. But at the meantime your dermatologist might not tell you the negative side of excessive hand washing as she might think that such point is quite common to be known by everyone and hence, it is better not to waste the consultation time by repeating the same principle. But what you must remember is that; you should not indulge in excessive hand washing as it might make your hands and your nails not only hard and rigid but might make them prone to bacterial growths and fungus intrusions.

Exfoliate At Home

Finally, your dermatologist might not tell you that it is not always necessary to go to your manicurist for exfoliating your cuticles on a regular basis. You must try to exfoliate your cuticles on a regular basis by yourself. It is quite an easy process to indulge in. If you have dry skin then you must just rub your nails with a wash cloth in the shower. Pushing back the cloth and rubbing the cloth over the fingers in a circular motion would eventually exfoliate the cuticles. Moreover, the moist air in the shower will make the cuticles softer and easier for you to clean. But your dermatologist might not tell you this little but expensive secret.