Tinea versicolor: Who gets and causes
Who gets tinea versicolor?
The yeast that causes tinea versicolor lives on everyone's skin. It is not clear why the yeast overgrows on some people's skin and not others. We do know the following about tinea versicolor:
People of all skin colors get it
Teens and young adults are most susceptible because they have oily skin
Older adults and children rarely get it unless they live in a tropical or subtropical area
People who live in non-tropical areas often see tinea versicolor disappear during the cool, dry months
What causes tinea versicolor?
Yeast normally live on our skin. When the yeast overgrows, it causes the skin disease tinea versicolor. It is believed that the following can cause the yeast to overgrow:
Hot, humid weather
Lots of sweating
Oily skin
A weakened immune system