I first published an article on Tinea Veriscolor in November of 2000. Since that time, that article has consistently been the most viewed, most read topic on this site. Month after month, its readership far exceeds any other topic I have presented to date. With that in mind, I am very curious to know your experiences in dealing with Tinea Versicolor. Remember from my first article, "Tinea Versicolor-Treating a Chronic Skin Infection" at
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/8186... , that Tinea Versicolor is a chronic fungal skin infection affecting mostly young men indiscriminate of race. On a daily basis, people plaqued with Tinea Versicolor, are covered with a splotchy, itchy rash appearing mostly on the trunk and extremities. People with Tinea Versicolor generally dread the onset of hot, humid weather which causes the rash to flare up. The splotches are either dark where the rest of the skin is light; or they are light where the remaining skin is dark or tan. In other words, the splotches are always noticeable.
My goal in reopening this topic, is to hopefully hear how you are living with your condition. By all of us sharing our personal experiences, frustrations, failures, successes and general knowledge we can help each other gain further insight into this chronic infection. Tinea Versicolor is very personal to me, because my husband has suffered from it for nearly 15 years. I understand through his eyes that although Tinea Versicolor is not life-threatening, it is indeed disabling in a number of ways.
Below are a list of questions that I think will open this topic up for discussion. Please no advertising of products; and you should always check with your doctor before beginning any new treatments or therapies.
1. Have you been "officially" diagnosed with Tinea Versicolor by a doctor? Did he/she use a Wood Lamp or KOH test to diagnose your condition?
2. What bothers you most about living with Tinea Versicolor (ie itching, appearance, chronic condition, etc.)?
3. Is your condition worse in certain kinds of weather (ie dry/cold, hot/humid)?
4. Are you male or female?
5. What was your age at onset?
6. How long have you had this condition?
7. Do you think you "caught" the infection from someone or something?
8. Does this condition run in your family?
9. Do you notice a flare up after eating certain foods (ie dairy, yeast, etc.)?
10. What natural therapies have been successful and unsuccessful (ie herbs, special diets, natural creams, etc.)?
11. What medical treatments have been successful or unsuccessful (ie medicated shampoos, prescription drugs, etc.)?
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to
Shannon Evans's
Skin Disorders topic, please visit the Discussions page.
