ask: what gets rid of tinea versicolor ?

Hi Dreai22

Thanks for your question and welcome!

Our Encyclopedia describes tinea versicolor as "... a type of dermatomycosis that is caused by a yeast that interferes with normal tanning. Dermatomycosis is a term that includes a variety of superficial skin infections caused by fungi or yeast. These types of infections almost always only affect skin, hair, and/or nails. In people with severe immune problems, these infections can become more serious and invasive.

Tinea versicolor can result in uneven skin color. Tinea versicolor usually affects the back, upper arms, underarms, chest, and neck. It rarely affects the face."

Treatment options for tinea versicolor include the following:

Medications Applied to the Skin
Selenium sulfide lotion (2.5%) or shampoo (1%) applied daily for a week and then monthly for several months to prevent recurrences. Several other medicated creams and ointments are also available.

Medications Taken by Mouth
Prescription antifungal medications taken by mouth have the advantage of convenience and shorter treatment duration. However, they are more expensive and associated with more adverse effects. Some people cannot take antifungal medications. Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking and any medical problems you have.

Once the infection is successfully treated, your skin will naturally return to its normal color. However, this process usually takes several months. Also, the condition may improve in the winter only to return again in the summer months.

Prevention
Avoiding excessive heat and sweating may reduce your risk of tinea versicolor.

We have a lot more information on our tinea versicolor page here: http://www.empowher.com/media/reference/tinea-versicolor#definition

dreai22, can you tell us when you were diagnosed with this? And what treatments you are using or thinking about using? We hope to hear more from you soon!