Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor skin yeast infections - causes

Malassezia furfur > Tinea versicolor > Causes > Symptoms > diagnosis > Treatment
Causes of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor skin yeast infections are factors like hot climate, humidity, profuse sweating (hyperhidrosis), high levels of skin oil, malnutrition and immunodeficiency.

Malassezia furfur, the yeast responsible for causing tinea versicolor is one of the normal flora of the human skin and is a saprophyte. Apparently healthy persons are also found to get infected and get tinea versicolor. However Malassezia furfur, being an opportunistic, triggered by conducive factors becomes a pathogen causing these yeast infections. Factors conducive in conversion of this yeast into a parasite and pathogen are discussed below.

Hot climate and excess heat

Hot climate and excess heat in the surroundings are conducive for tinea versicolor skin yeast infections. Hot climate has been associated with this disease. In the tropical countries this disease is very prevalent and even up to 50% of the population is affected. The pathogens like bacteria and fungi thrive well in higher temperatures. In temperate country like Sweden only about 1% population is affected. Apart from the climate if the working place environment or home environment is hot, the Malassezia species present in the body may turn into pathogens and proliferate.

Excess humidity and profuse sweating

Excess humidity and profuse sweating causes pityriasis versicolor. Malassezia furfur is a saprophytic fungus feeding and living off the skin debris on the outermost layers. High humidity and sweating keep the skin moist and provide a ideal environment for the saprophyte to turn into a pathogen. Further sweat containing traces of nutrients help in the proliferation of these fungi.

Oily skin and excess sebaceous gland activity causes pityriasis yeast infections

Malassezia furfur is lipophilic and in vitro it is found to grow well in media containing cholesterol and its esters. The high sebum producing regions of the body like chest, back and neck are first to get tinea (pityriasis) versicolor. The incidence of pityriasis is particularly high among the young adults and teenagers, with a very conspicuous rarity among the pre-teens and the elderly. This is attributed to the increase in the lipid levels on the epidermis of this young adult age group. Further it has also been found that the sebum-presence of amino acids like asparagine stimulated the growth of the fungal forms and glycine induced the formation of hyphae and triggering tinea yeast infections.

Immuno deficiency causes tinea versicolor

Acquired immuno deficiency virus affected persons are prone to all yeast infections. They are very likely to acquire tinea versicolor yeast infections.

Use of corticosteroids causes pityriasis yeast infections

Anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids are generally used for suppressing inflammation, reducing swelling, itching and allergy. In some persons these drugs have been found to result in tinea versicolor.

Malnutrition and excess fat consumption causes fungal skin infections

In the developing countries and poor nations the populations are under nourished. Apart from making them weak it adds to lowering their immunity. These undernourished populations are prone to acquire tinea (pityriasis) versicolor yeast infections. In contrast in affluent population people consuming fad and junk food and eating excess of fat are malnourished and are equally prone to tinea versicolor.

Skin damages and burns can cause tinea (pityriasis) versicolor skin yeast infections

Skin damages and burns offer lots of nutrition for the skin fungi with skin debris. The fungus grows on the dead tissue and causes tinea versicolor.

Oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives can trigger tinea versicolor. Oral contraceptive alters the hormone secretions in the body and triggers and causes tinea versicolor.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy may precipitate yeast infections. Pregnancy causes great hormonal changes in women. These changes can be of advantage to Malassezia furfur fungus and tinea versicolor may be caused.

Removal of adrenal gland

Removal of adrenal gland causes tinea versicolor to take over. The removal of adrenal glands causes disturbances in the endocrine system and results in impaired hormone secretions. This disturbance in hormones causes tinea versicolor.

Cushing's disease

Cushing's disease causes tinea versicolor yeast infections. Cushing's disease is a hormonal disorder. This is caused by continuous high levels of cortisol hormone. Cushing's syndrome causes many striking changes on the skin. Sufferers of this syndrome are prone to tinea (pityriasis) versicolor skin yeast infections

Genetic predisposition

Genetic predisposition causes pityriasis versicolor. Some families have been found to suffer from tinea (pityriasis) versicolor for generations.

Cell mediated immunity

Cell mediated immunity leads to tinea versicolor fungal infections. Normally general population is found to be sensitized against the antigens of this fungus. However tinea (pityriasis) versicolor affected persons are found to have their lymphocyte function impaired. This immunosuppression plays a role and causes this disease. Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor causes depression in afflicted people with apparent skin blemishes.

Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor fungal skin infections

Malassezia furfur > Tinea versicolor > Causes > Symptoms > diagnosis > Treatment

Tinea versicolor or pityriasis versicolor are fungal skin infections caused by fungi of the yeast variety of Malassezia group.

Overview and description of tinea versicolor

Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor fungal infections are usually superficial, benign, common, recurrent and not contagious affecting the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis. They are characterised by macules (color patches) which may be hyperpigmented (darker) or hypopigmented (lighter) appearing in multi colors of white, creamy, pale pink and brown. These spots of fungal infections are usually found on the upper arms, back, neck and upper chest. These fungus patches may have fine scales and itching (pruritus) may be occasionally present.

Fungi Malassezia furfur and M. globosa cause tinea versicolor fungal infections

Tinea versicolor (sun fungus) is caused by Malassezia group of fungi which are residents of human skin. They are part of the normal flora of the human skin. Recent studies have revealed that Malassezia globosa and M. furfur cause most of the tinea versicolor fungal skin infections. Though this skin fungus is present normally on the skin, under certain situations it starts to grow, proliferate and cause these infections.

Warm and humid conditions appear to be conducive for this tinea fungus to turn into pityriasis versicolor skin infections. These fungi are lipophilic and oily skin provides the right environment for their multiplication. Further it appears to affect the teenagers and young adults. May be it is due to hyperactivity of sebaceous glands in these age groups. Young children and elderly people are least affected by the tinea (pityriasis) versicolour fungal infections. Depending on the affliction, there are many types of these fungal infections.

Tinea versicolor type 1

These fungi which are normally in the form of round or oval spores, when triggered put out slender filaments called hyphae and grow initially as small colonies. These colonies grow and overlap to form larger patches. There may be opportunistic infections and skin lesions present. The fungus produce azelaic acid which has skin bleaching properties, causing the white patches and the apparent symptom of this disease.

These areas do not tan and stand out as white or pale pink patches when the healthier skin gets tanned. In the basal layers of epidermis melanocytes produce melanin pigment clumps called melanosomes. In some persons the fungi can induce the melanosomes (brown pigments) to become bigger in size and give rise to hyperpigmentation and dark brown patches of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor.

Tinea versicolor type 2

In this type of infection apart from the usual areas of affliction, the disease may affect face, fore head, arm pits, groins and extremities. This tinea (pityriasis) versicolor type is generally found in persons with weakened immune system.

Tinea versicolor type 3

In this type fungal infections may involve the hair follicles on chest, back and hands.

Tinea versicolor type 4

In this fungal form, about 3mm size, several, firm, reddish brown, monomorphic, inflammatory and itchy papules are formed.

Universal incidence of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor fungal skin infections

Though tinea (pityriasis) versicolor causing fungi are present in nearly all adults, the fungal disease condition is experienced in relevance to temperature, moisture and age group. Humidity and heat play an important role in the development of these fungi. In America about 10% people develop tinea (pityriasis) versicolor, whereas in some tropical countries nearly 50% of the population get these fungal skin infections.

In countries like Sweden only 1% of the population develop tinea (pityriasis) versicolor. In temperate regions the tinea (pityriasis) versicolor sets in warmer summer months, fading with the onset of winter. In tropical regions this fungal disease persists and becomes chronic. Though it may affect any age group, often teenagers and young adults are the most affected by this fungal disease.

Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor is not specific to any gender or race. Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor fungal skin infections may recur after treatments. In most people though the disease may go away after treatment the restoration of the normal skin appearance takes several months. Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor fungal skin infections though have little or no physiological impact on the populations, they leave a psychological impact on the individuals with blemishes on the skin.

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