Does tinea versicolor cause dark patches on skin?

Tinea versicolor is linked to an overgrowth of a yeast that normally lives on the skin. It can interfere with the skin’s usual pigment activity, creating patches that look darker, lighter, pink, or tan compared with surrounding skin. The patches often appear on the chest, back, shoulders, neck, or upper arms and may have a subtle powdery scale. Colour can remain uneven after the yeast has been controlled because pigment recovery takes time.

A clinician can examine the pattern and scale and decide whether testing is needed before treatment. Depending on the area and extent, treatment may involve an antifungal wash or medicine applied to the skin; use it exactly as directed. Keep the skin dry, avoid sharing towels, and use sun protection so contrast between affected and unaffected skin is less noticeable. Do not keep repeating treatment without review if the patches do not respond.

Arrange a medical review if the patches are spreading, painful, very itchy, inflamed, or not improving after appropriate treatment. Seek assessment for a spot that bleeds, crusts, changes rapidly, or looks unlike the other patches, because not every colour change is tinea versicolor.

Ask whether the colour pattern and fine scale fit tinea versicolor, how to apply the recommended antifungal, and how long uneven colour may take to settle after treatment.