Tinea Versicolor. Sounds kind of ominous and to tell the truth, it is.....sorta. It’s a skin condition which looks like splotches of white or brown all over one’s back, arms, shoulders, chest and stomach. In short, I have it. Last April we had an especially sunny day for the first time in the year and whilst renovating a home I got down to the “skinny” to enjoy the sun when I was working outside. Shorts, socks and shoes. I expected to burn because I always do on my first day out and normally, I would do the same the second day but this time the temp dropped down and it rained for a couple of days. When my skin started healing up, that’s when the splotches appeared. I didn’t think much of it at the time but then it stayed, and stayed and got worse. After a little research I found out that the condition is called Tinea Versicolor. Around the month of June I asked for a referral to see a skin specialist or rather a “Dermatologist” but could not get an appointment until December so, I started studying the condition myself until I could see the good doctor. I found out that there is a lot of bad information out there and only some good because thus far, the condition seems to baffle the skin docs. They do not know where it comes from, why it exists or how to get rid of it permanently. They have correctly come to the conclusion that it is not communicable and it’s a mold called Malaneezia Furfur. Yup, I’m getting old and moldy. Through my own research, it turns out that Malaneezia is actually part of the skin’s flora and the bacteria exists on every human being on the face of the earth but mine, for lack of better words, mutated. To be sure, possibly it’s just me but I find the whole thing fascinating. The mold lives on the fats and oils present in the skin, prefers an alkaline environment, and developes a protective layer formed of “critin” which is also found in the shells of crustaceans. Yup, old, moldy AND crusty. The layer also protects it from ultra violet light which is doubly bad because the skin cannot receive the light in order to produce vitamin D. I’ll make this short for now. I’ve been using Selsun Blue, an over the counter shampoo which has a 1% solution of Selenium Sulfide in it. It kills mold but, it takes a long, long time to wear down the protective layer in order to get to the actual bacteria. And do note, one doesn’t really want to kill the actual bacteria but to merely control it. Note: It’s getting a bit better and one care barely see the splotches from a couple of feet but I know it’s still a problem. Okay, so I saw the good doctor and I stated that I have accomplished a lot of research but I have a lot of questions to ask. We talked back and forth for a minute and then she told me that I had studied more on the stuff than she had in 20 years and I probably knew more than she did. Sad. She did say that the problem normally occurs with extremely healthy teenage people which, was encouraging but other than giving me a prescription for a much more effective shampoo and asking me to come back in a couple of months, I didn’t learn a whole lot from her. As I wrote, sad, because the research is out there but thus far, doesn’t seem as though anyone has gone to the trouble to compile it, sort out the true from the false, come to a good observation and put it to print. Now, I am doing more research and am writing a paper on the problem. I know the chemical and molecular makeup right down to how many amino acids and enzymes the mold has to have in order to exist. Each day that goes by, I am finding out more and more interesting facts and fiction about it and possibly, once I am finished, maybe I can submit my findings and get published!
Like my Honey would say if he saw those spots...."You're just cuter than a speckled puppy!" @Bobby Cole Do those spots itch or cause any kind of pain?
I'm sorry to read this Bobby, I know what its like trying to find a solution to things and it seems we're the last to know 'if' the Docs know more about it ! Have you googled to see if there's a forum on the condition ? Some can be very helpful
They do around the shoulder and back of the neck areas but a little aloe seems to stop that. The thing is, many people use coconut oil which is known to kill mold, but in this case it’s like adding fuel to a fire. A little later today, I’ll list the stuff that people need to stay away from so some of our onlookers with the problem can avoid them and start healing up. Funny, but a fellow body builder has a permanent problem with splotches. He’s a black guy and his skin changes day to day depending on his (among other things) estrogen / testosterone levels.
That is funny because in your first post when the Doctor told you that extremely healthy teenagers often get this skin disorder....my mind automatically thought that it must have something to do with those "raging hormones" those teenagers have!
Oh yeah. Done that. The problem is that there is nothing really definitive because there is a wide array of skin diseases which the Malaneezia critter is responsible for. Even a bad case of dandruff is a result. The science is out there, it’s just hard to get to and compile which most established doctors do not wish to bother themselves with. Doctors in general do not necessarily have to know why a condition exists but which prescription will “heal” the condition.
Well, in a way it makes a little sense. I am healthy and on a scale of 100-1020 made for 18-40 year old men, my testosterone level is in the 800’s. And yup, I still get a pimple or two and yup, uh yeah, that other thing too.
Yep - I get ya Bobby, I really do Cider vinegar seems to cure all - have you tried that, I can't take to it at all
Believe it or not, yes, apple cider vinegar is great. Here’s the main thing I have found out. The outside appearance is directly linked to the PH of our skin and also what goes on in the gut. At present, I am taking apple cider vinegar capsules to not only help out with the gut, but also to find out if it can leach out through my pores in order to combat the preferable living atmosphere (alkaline) back to a slightly above acidic PH. Kind of like trying to heal from the inside out. Good call Patsy!!
Capsules ! Great - have you been taking them very long ? Wouldn't it be smashing if the capsules worked for you ! If they do, I'll give them a try too
After I ordered some and gave the report back to Yvonne, she found some on Amazon that were on sale and then she bought some too. No bad taste, no burps and they’re healthy. I’ve been taking them on and off for about 3 weeks and I believe they do help quite a bit. The proof will be when spring and summer arrive. One of the warnings that I have read thus far is that the condition is unrelenting and will come back after heavy exposure to the sun. Normally, I do not wear sun screen but this year I will start to do so but the main thing I am counting on is if I am correct, the PH values have a lot to do with the mutation. Along with a good regimen of probiotics, the apple cider vinegar should help cancel out the earlier stated concerns.
As long as the good Lord wakes me up each morning and gives me yet another chance to get it right, I am indeed blessed!