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Dear Doc,
I'm 24 years old. The first signs of fungus appeared on
and under my arms when I was 14, and I've been officially
diagnosed with tinea versicolor five years ago.
I have read all of the archived posts on tinea versicolor
and I'm glad I did because I've learn alot from it.
First of all, I was really surprised to learn about
simple facts such as "scrubbing the skin everytime to
remove the dead skin cells" My dermatologist NEVER told me
about this. Even when I asked him if there was ANYTHING I
could do, anything about my lifestyle that I could change
that would help treating this fungus, he said there was
nothing I could do about it, and that I would probably have
this all my life (now THERE'S a major downer!). He also
never told me the fact that skin replaces itself every 4
weeks, which is kinda good to know...so therefore, he never
prescribed me a 4 week treatment, and I think that's why
the fungus always came back: it was down, but not
out....It's ALIVE, I tell you. And I don't know if it's a
coincidence or not, but I noticed that, just when I think
it gets better, it always comes back every 4 weeks, just
before my periods; so I was wondering if my menstrual cycle
had ANY influence on the fungus....?
Furthermore, among all the infos I've read on your
archives, I believe this one to be the most important
(well, in my case) : SINCE TINEA VERSACOLOR IS A FUNGUS,
AND FUNGI LIVE ONLY ON DEAD STUFF, YOU HAVE TO TREAT THIS
FOR AT LEAST 4 WEEKS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS GONE FOR GOOD.
ANY LESS & YOU WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GET IT BACK.
Wow. I mean, after 10 years, of battling with a TV that
always came back, I learn this only NOW???! Why didn't my
dermatologist tell me about this?? Is he ignorant or just
careless? He would prescribe me a 14-day oral treatment of
nizoral and tell me to use the nizoral cream ONCE A MONTH
(and I knew that wasn't enough but who am I to contradict a
dermatologist; they look so sure of themselves, you think
they actually KNOW what the're talking about, right?) and
then, "ok la deee daaa, go home and come back in a year".
It's been like this for the past 4-5 years. Geeee's....no
wonder my TV always came back with a vengence!
My dermatologist also diagnosed under my arms what he calls
to be a "more severe and very rare form of tinea
versicolor". In french, it's called " Papillomatose De
Gougerot Carteaud " (hope I spelled it right!) I've spoken
to a few doctors, but beside my dermatologist, no one seems
to know what that is. Is this type of fungus familiar to
you? And should it be treated just like any tinea
versicolor fungus or is there a more specific and effective
treatment out there ? (I also tried Sporanox: 2 pills once
a day for 7 days but I haven't seen any result yet but
maybe it takes a couple of weeks for the medication to
"kick in"?)
So, as for now, I'm going to follow the advices I read and
see what happens. From what I've read on this site, the
most popular treatment seems to be the Selsun Blue shampoo
that you leave on for the night (after taking a bath or
shower+scrubing to gently exfoliate the skin) So, my
question is: if, instead of using the Selsun Blue shampoo,
I use the Nizoral shampoo overnight, will it be as
effective? What's the difference between those 2 anti
fungus shampoo? My dermatologist prescribed the Nizoral
shampoo, but only once a month: I have to put it all over
my body, leave it on for 5-10 minutes, and then rince it
off. I'm no doctor but I don't feel that's enough and I
doubt it will make it go away. My dermatologist is highly
underestimating the fungus by thinking this little "once a
month" treatment will make it go away. I don't think so...!
Anywho, up until now, I had given up hope and was sure I
would be stuck with this all my life. And, althought I'm
still pretty sceptical, I will follow the many advices I
read on the archives of your site, and hope it will work.
Because this fungusly thing is groing on me : neck, arms,
stomach, thights and it's so ITCHTY sometimes it drives me
CRAZY; I feel I'm more fungus than human and the worst
thing is I can't even imagine my life without it because
it's been a part of me for so long; a BIG thorn on my rose
of hapiness. I just don't understand why, with all the
technology and the medical and scientifical breakthrough,
it is SO hard to get rid of one little harmless fungus...
Thank you for taking the time to read this long message; I
rarely talk to people about my skin condition and it feels
good to let it out. I don't know if you'll have time to
answer my questions, but if you could, I would appreciate
it alot.
Thank you and have a g'day!
Liz
In Reply to: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Liz on May 26, 2002 at 20:50:32:
Liz, try Lotrimin solution on your TV. It got rid of mine fairly quickly and it isn't messy nor inconvenient. There's also Lotrimin cream, but the solution is clear and doesn't stain your clothes or anything. You can find it at just about any pharmacy in the 'foot care' section. All this won't keep the TV from coming back, though. You need to control the over-growth of yeast in your gut to do that. E-mail me if you've got any questions.
In Reply to: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Liz on May 26, 2002 at 20:50:32:
hello there! i 101% agree with u about the
dermatologist. they told me alot of crap and it didnt
work. i asked the same questions like u did and they
didnt have any hopeful answers. finding this site does
help. u wouldnt hear those comments from any doctors.
all that money for insurance and get no helpful
service in return. hopefully its not too late for all of us sufferers. i've had TV for about 9 or 10
yrs. i have eczema, body acne and scar easily. i have
no hope, i feel so ugly. this dilemma brings me
down. i am 24, attractive (not to be conceited), living in sunny san diego covered up. summer is on its way--i'm the one usually covered up or i just stay home. i want to feel good and be free. hopefully this nizoral shampoo
works. someone suggested i take supplements for eczema
too. let me know how things go for u. thanks..
In Reply to: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Liz on May 26, 2002 at 20:50:32:
Hi, Liz.
Your dermatologist is not ignorant, only lazy. There is no way that he does not know this stuff.
If you have no hypersensitivity to the selsun, it is the cheapest way to go.
If you do the nizoral is the next best. However, you have to use the nizoral just as the selsun would be used, overnight, every night, for at least a month.
Be sure to remove the superficial dead skin with the terrycloth buffing every time you shower so that by the end of the month it is a habit you will always have.
In MY opinion the main thing dermatologists do is give long and complicated names for simple things--especially if it can be given in French!
Let us know how you do.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Missy on May 26, 2002 at 23:55:22:
Thank you all for responding to my message; I appreciate it
alot.
I'm off to a new start, with a new treatment and hope it
will work. It's a nice feeling knowing there's actually
SOMETHING I can do about it: taking action instead of just
waiting for my next appointment at the dermatologist in 8
months. I'll get back at you in a month, at the end of my
treatment. (hang in there, cheezi; I know JUST how you feel
and hope this treatment will work for you as well, if you
try it)
Thanks again!
Liz
p.s. Oh, one more thing. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not
familiar with he term "terry cloth" (I'm a francophone).
What is that exactly? Is it like a regular towel? Thanks:)
In Reply to: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Liz on May 26, 2002 at 20:50:32:
Ooops!
Sorry...I think I confused cheezi with missy!
In Reply to: Re: tinea versicolor: comments and questions posted by Liz on May 27, 2002 at 14:36:52:
Yeah, Liz.
Terrycloth is what all towels and most washcloths (should be all) are made of. The reason is so the dead skin can be buffed off while drying--which is the easiest, and most effective, time to do it.
Walt
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