Tinea versicolor causes discolored, scaly patches on your skin due to fungal overgrowth. Common treatments include antifungal creams and shampoos.12
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Tinea versicolor: Diagnosis and treatment.
Tinea Versicolor Symptoms
The first symptom of tinea versicolor is oval-shaped, scaly patches on your skin. These spots may be hyperpigmented (darker in color) or hypopigmented (lighter in color) as compared to your normal skin tone. Keep in mind: this infection can look different on people with different skin tones. Patches may appear white, red, pink, salmon, brown, or tan in color and can develop anywhere in the body. In most cases, people notice these spots on their neck, back, arms, or trunk (butt).3
The spots tend to be dry, which may cause you to feel itchy. Over time, the patches can grow larger. But it's worth noting that sometimes the patches can disappear during winter when the temperature drops and return in the summer or spring when the weather becomes warm and humid again. Generally, exposure to the sun also makes the spots more visible because the affected skin does not tan or darken like normal skin.3
