page_title: Tinea versicolor
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Tinea versicolor / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: Tinea Versicolor fluorescence under Wood's lamp
context_page_description: Tinea versicolor is a condition characterized by a skin eruption on the trunk and proximal extremities. The majority of tinea versicolor is caused by the fungus Malassezia globosa, although Malassezia furfur is responsible for a small number of cases. These yeasts are normally found on the human skin and become troublesome only under certain circumstances, such as a warm and humid environment, although the exact conditions that cause initiation of the disease process are poorly understood.
  The condition pityriasis versicolor was first identified in 1846. Versicolor comes from the Latin, from versāre to turn + color. It is also commonly referred to as Peter Elam's disease in many parts of South Asia.
context_section_description: Tinea versicolor may be diagnosed by a potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation and lesions may fluoresce copper-orange when exposed to Wood's lamp. 
  The differential diagnosis for tinea versicolor infection includes:
  Progressive macular hypomelanosis
  Pityriasis alba
  Pityriasis rosea
  Seborrheic dermatitis
  Erythrasma
  Vitiligo
  Leprosy
  Syphilis
  Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
caption: Tinea versicolor fluorescence under Wood's lamp
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