LIVER SPOTS – PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR

Fungi cause surface infection of the skin which is usually called as Pityriasis versicolor. It usually affects trunk and arms and sometimes any parts of the body.

This spot usually range in the size of pinhead to one centimeter across.  The patches are pale in colour.  They are flat in appearance and become scaly when it is scratched with nails. Malassezia furfur is the fungi mainly responsible for causing Pityriasis Versicolor. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another.  Hence it is not infectious unlike ringworm.  This fungus is normally grows in the skin particularly in oily surface.  Hence this fungus is fat-loving skin. The causes for this infection are not known till now. Defective in immune function is one of the causes for these liver spots.

These spots are diagnosed by the doctors seeing on the appearance of the rashes.  It can clearly be identified when the affected skin is examined under the microscope where fungi can be seen.  This infection can be treated by washing with water and applying antifungal creams.  Miconazole, clotrimazole and econazole are some of the antifungal creams.  These are usually Imidazole creams. Usage of these creams for 4 to 6 weeks will check the growth of the fungus.  At first scaliness of the patches will be removed.  The pigments and the fungus collectively result in the pale colour.  These pale patches remain for some months.  Recovery of these cells occurs only after some period.  This infection shows chronic condition.  If it is left untreated it will spread.