Tinea versicolor is a rather common fungal skin infection that predominantly affects teenagers and young adults. The condition is characterized by the noticeable change in color of the skin to become either a few shades lighter or darker. Most of the time, the condition will affect areas like the shoulders, chest and back while it may also affect any folds of the skin such as under the breasts, crook of the arm or the groin. The condition is also known to look significantly different between two affected individuals where it can be seen as just a collection of few spots on the skin, or a number of spots which give it the appearance that the affected areas seem to be normal while the surrounding, unaffected area appears to be exposed to the condition. The yeast that causes the condition lives on the skin of most adults and can exist in two forms, of which only one results in visible spots. There are a number of aggravating factors for the condition such as high humidity and hormone and immune abnormalities. The condition is neither permanent nor serious, but can cause quite a significant amount of stress and worry for the affected individual during the period when it is most prominent. The patches also tend to be more noticeable during the summer months, which also see a significant increase in the amount of itching and irritability.
The best natural treatments for the condition depend largely on factors such as the age, overall health and medical history of the individual. Since the infection is caused by a fungus, the use of antifungal creams being applied two times in a day should help considerably. Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis will help remove any dead skin cells as well as some of the fungus from your skin, thereby reducing the amount of time you are affected by the condition. Shampoos containing ketoconazole –an agent that fights the fungus causing dandruff, have been seen to be very effective in treating this fungus as well. It is best to use a little of this shampoo along with your loofa to scrub the affected areas. Allow the shampoo to remain on your skin for at least 10 minutes and then rinse it off. Use this remedy for at least 2 weeks to see visible results.
You should also try switching to a diet that contains high amounts of raw fruit and vegetables as well as whole grain foods. This helps significantly strengthen your immune system by providing it with a healthy supply of antioxidants.