Tinea versicolor is caused by the organism Pityrosporum ovale. It
occurs most often in young adults. Wood's lamp examination revelas
pale yellow-green fluorescence. KOH prep reveals "spaghetti and
meatballs" with hyphae and spores. Skin lesions are sharply
marginated macules, either hyper or hypopigmented, covered with
fine scale. Small discrete lesions may eventually coalesce to cover
large areas of the trunk.
Review Date: 10/10/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
