Tinea Versicolor Archives

Tinea Versicolor - new questions

I've read A LOT of the testimonials and some of the archived TV posts and thought I'd ask a couple questions that, to my knowledge, have not been asked.
I've recently been diagnosed as having Tinea Versicolor. But this is after being diagnosed as having ringworm (or so I think she may have said). I'll explain further. Sometime in the middle of September '02, I was scratched by my newly adopted kitten from the humane society. Eventually I developed an oval-ish pink spot that then formed into the size of a quarter and was healed in the middle; located 3 to 4 inches below my right breast. I went out and bought some tinactin and it seemed to be getting bigger so I made an appt. My doctor scraped and determined that it was a slight case of ringworm and prescribed me some clotrimazole. I used it for about 2 days when I noticed little pink spots beginning to develop around the area of the "ringworm" and then around my belly button, ALMOST everywhere that my underwear rests, some on my back, a bit on my inner-upper thigh, and above my hip bones. I thought it was an allergic reaction to the cream so I went to the doctor again (diff. doc) and he scraped and said it was tinea versicolor. He then prescribed Nizoral pills (he told me to go out and sweat some after taking the pill so that it comes out of my pores a little faster and told me not to shower afterwards until the next day), told me to continue using clotrimazole to "beat it at both ends," and as an extra to use Selsun blue as has been described on your site. He said it should be gone in a week. I have a follow up in two weeks but I have some questions.

1. do you think that my doctor gave me a good amount of help with my TV? It seems most who post aren't informed well enough. If not, I will go to a diff. doc. or ask beter questions.
2. I am about to start my period, will it affect the effectiveness of the nizoral pills? help the fungus to spread?
3. will my treatment knock out ringworm along with TV, with no poreblems?
4. I have been EXTREMELY cautious about cleaning EVERYTHING that I have worn or even touched, but I am curious if TV can be spread to different parts of my body by my hands?

I will have other questions if this one has responses. Sorry for the novel but I want to be further aware of all that I can or cannot do to get rid of this fungus. infinite thanks. :)

*J.M.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions nita 15:20:13 10/08/02 (2)
  • Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions Walt Stoll 09:42:37 10/09/02 (1)
    • Tinea Versicolor - new questions (Overview.) Archive Walt Stoll 09:43:29 10/09/02 (0)
• Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions Walt Stoll 09:19:08 10/02/02 (0)

In Reply to: Tinea Versicolor - new questions posted by J.M. on October 01, 2002 at 21:23:47:

Hi, JM.

I have never seen any fungus skin infestation be "gone" in less than 4 weeks. Your doc should write a paper about his "1 week cure". It seems he is doing all the right things. I just believe it will take a lot longer.

Walt

In Reply to: Tinea Versicolor - new questions posted by J.M. on October 01, 2002 at 21:23:47:

I have had tinea versicolor since I was 14 and I am now 44. I have used all of the medicines you mentioned. It is a fungus that will never go away. It will disappear but give it time. It will show back up possibly even years later. I have taken nizoral tablets (which can be harmful to your liver) and used the cream along with selsun. It helps it but mark my word...it always comes back, usually in the hot summer. Sorry, just have dealt with this most of my life. Nita

Follow Ups:

• Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions Walt Stoll 09:42:37 10/09/02 (1)
  • Tinea Versicolor - new questions (Overview.) Archive Walt Stoll 09:43:29 10/09/02 (0)

In Reply to: Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions posted by nita on October 08, 2002 at 15:20:13:

Hi, Nita.

Resolving this very superficial fungus infestation has 2 parts: Prevention and treatment. It tends to recur because both are not done.

Prevention involved improving general immunity and being careful to "buff" the superficial skin off with each bath and drying---forever.

Treatment involves any of the anti-fungal topicals (or selsun blue) for at least a month. NO treatment is likely to be a permanent cure without the prevention part in susceptible individuals.

Since you have had this for 40 years it is safe to say that you are a susceptible one.

Hope this helps.

Walt

Follow Ups:

• Tinea Versicolor - new questions (Overview.) Archive Walt Stoll 09:43:29 10/09/02 (0)

In Reply to: Re: Tinea Versicolor - new questions posted by Walt Stoll on October 09, 2002 at 09:42:37:

NMI