Tinea Versicolor Treatment: Options for Children

Fungal infections are common in children and are typically resolved without significant amounts of healthcare treatment. If your child has been diagnosed with a condition known as tinea versicolor, you can expect there will be very aggressive healthcare needed to mitigate long term health complications attributed to this type of chronic fungal complication.

Tinea versicolor is the medical term used to describe a chronic fungal infection that is not responding to traditional medical care and, when not aggressively treated, can result in permanent scarring of the skin. In children who have this type of fungal infection, a collaborative approach to treatment is often required. Just like using multiple levels of treatment in vitiligo disease, a child with tinea versicolor will typically not respond to one type of care.

In the scope of your child's treatment for tinea versicolor, a dermatologist and internal medical specialist will typically be required. With each of these specialties, your child will have a better opportunity to overcome the health complication. In addition, some children with prolonged cases of tinea versicolor also need the help of a plastic surgeon to repair any permanent damage that is attributed to the fungal scales that are present on the skin.

Treatment provided for tinea versicolor will include oral medications to fight the fungal infection along with topical lotions to prevent further spread of the infection. In addition, natural supplements that include vitamins, minerals and herbal remedies may also be recommended. Laser therapy may also be recommended by the dermatologist working to fight the infection.

Without a collaborative approach to healthcare, your child's complications with tinea versicolor may be difficult to overcome. In the long term, changes to skin texture and appearance will develop and this can then lead to mental health complications and issues with self-esteem. Therefore, if your child has been confirmed with tinea versicolor, be sure to tap into the treatment provided by these three healthcare specialties.

Sources: Immunology of Fungal Infections, by Gordon Brown