The key difference between pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor is that pityriasis alba causes red, scaly patches on the skin due to different reasons such as ultraviolet radiation, excessive or inadequate bathing, low level of serum copper, and Malassezia yeast, while tinea versicolor causes lighter or darker patches on the skin due to an infection by a fungus called Malassezia.
Pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor are two skin disorders. Both these skin disorders cause patches in the skin, which ultimately lead to hypopigmentation. Pityriasis alba predominately affects children, while tinea versicolor affects both teens as well as adults.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pityriasis Alba
3. What is Tinea Versicolor
4. Similarities – Pityriasis Alba and Tinea Versicolor
5. Pityriasis Alba vs Tinea Versicolor in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pityriasis Alba vs Tinea Versicolor
What is Pityriasis Alba?
Pityriasis alba is a skin disorder that causes red, scaly patches on the skin at first but leaves behind lighter areas in the skin once it gets better. The exact cause of this skin disorder is not known. But scientists believe it is due to different reasons such as ultraviolet radiation, excessive or inadequate bathing, low levels of serum copper, and Malassezia yeast. This skin disorder predominantly affects children and adolescents aged 3 to 16. The signs and symptoms of pityriasis alba may include skin patches on the face, neck, arms, shoulders, or belly, skin patches that may be itchy, red or scaly, skin patches with a diameter of 0.5 to 5 cm, patches that are round, oval or irregular in shape, hypopigmentation in the summertime, and dryness and scaling in the wintertime.
Moreover, pityriasis alba can be diagnosed through wood lamp examination, scrapings for mycology, and skin biopsy. Treatment options for pityriasis alba may include moisturizing creams, a mild topical steroid (hydrocortisone), and calcineurin inhibitors (pimecrolimus cream and tacrolimus ointment).
What is Tinea Versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is a skin disorder that is due to an overgrowth of a fungus called Malassezia. It causes lighter or darker patches on the skin. Some factors that may promote this skin disorder include hot or humid weather, excessive sweating, oily skin, weakened immunity, and hormonal changes. The signs and symptoms of this skin disorder may include skin patches in arms, chest, neck, or back; patches that are lighter or darker than surrounding skin; pink, red, tan or brown patches; dry itchy, and scaly patches; patches that are more prominent with tanning; patches that disappear in cooler less humid weather; hypo or hyperpigmentation, and itchy skin.
Figure 01: Tinea Versicolor
Moreover, tinea versicolor can be diagnosed through wood lamp examination, a potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy, and skin biopsy. The treatment options for tinea versicolor may include over the counter medications such as clotrimazole miconazole, selenium sulphide and terbinafine, topical creams such as ciclopirox, ketoconazole, and pills such as fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole.
What are the Similarities Between Pityriasis Alba and Tinea Versicolor?
- Pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor are two skin disorders.
- Both these skin disorders cause patches in the skin leading to hypopigmentation.
- They may have similar symptoms such as skin patches, scaly and itchy areas on the skin, etc.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through wood lamp examination and skin biopsy.
- They are treated through over-the-counter and topical medications.
What is the Difference Between Pityriasis Alba and Tinea Versicolor?
Pityriasis alba is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the skin due to different reasons such as ultraviolet radiation, excessive or inadequate bathing, low level of serum copper, and Malassezia yeast, while tinea versicolor is a skin condition that causes lighter or darker patches on the skin due to an infection by Malassezia. Thus, this is the key difference between pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor. Furthermore, pityriasis alba mainly affects children and adolescents aged 3 to 16. On the other hand, tinea versicolor is mainly affecting teens and adults.
The below infographic presents the differences between pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Pityriasis Alba vs Tinea Versicolor
Pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor are two skin disorders that cause patches in the skin, which ultimately leads to hypopigmentation. However, pityriasis alba is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the skin due to different reasons such as ultraviolet radiation, excessive or inadequate bathing, low level of serum copper, and Malassezia yeast, while tinea versicolor is a skin condition that causes lighter or darker patches on the skin due to an infection by Malassezia fungus. So, this summarizes the difference between pityriasis alba and tinea versicolor.
Reference:
1. “Pityriasis Alba (Light Patches on Skin): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment.” WebMD.
2. “Tinea Versicolor: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Tinea versicolor1” By Sarahrosenau on Flickr.com (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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