By Jumoke olasunkanmi
Pityriasis Versicolor is a fungal skin infection commonly confused with eczema. It is a non-contagious skin infection caused by an excess growth of yeast on the skin.
This skin condition is more common in teenagers and young adults and presents as light or dark patches on the skin.
The misconception that this skin disease is caused by a lack of hygiene has been debunked by medical professionals, one of them a medical doctor popularly known as Sports_dokita2 on Twitter.
According to him, pityriasis versicolor is a fungal infection and should not be attributed to a lack of personal hygiene.
“There is a type of yeast (fungi) that lives on the skin, it lives on a normal healthy skin without causing any problem.
But when the fungi start growing more than usual, causing an overgrowth, it causes Pityriasis Versicolor,” he explained.
Tinea versicolor as it is also known is usually self-diagnosable and can be treated by a dermatologist using antifungal medications.
