Pigmentary changes of tinea versicolor in dark-skinned patients

Background Tinea versicolor causes scaly macular lesions which vary in color from white to brown. In patients with dark skin, tinea versicolor is thought to have a tendency to be hypopigmented. This view has not been formally documented. Objective Our objective was to determine the pigmentary changes of lesions of tinea versicolor in patients with skin types IV and V. Methods One hundred cases of tinea versicolor in persons with skin types IV and V were studied. The pigmentary changes and their correlation with the age and sex of the patients and the duration, recurrence, site, and symptomatology of the lesions were determined. Results There was no correlation between the pigmentary variations of tinea versicolor and the type of skin, sex, and age of our patients or the duration, recurrence, site, and symptomatology of the lesions. Conclusions In dark-skinned individuals, tinea versicolor does not tend to be significantly hypopigmented.