Beach mycosis: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Beach ringworm is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Malassezia furfurwhich produces a substance called azelaic acid, which prevents the skin from producing melanin, which is the skin pigment, causing symptoms such as white or reddish spots on the skin, or mild itching, especially in the arms and trunk area.

The patches of beach mycosis, which is also known as white cloth or pityriasis versicolor, become more visible after sun exposure, due to the contrast with the tan color of healthy skin. Furthermore, spots, when left untreated, can slowly increase in size over time, and join together to form larger spots.

The treatment of beach mycosis is carried out by a dermatologist, who may recommend the use of antifungal remedies in the form of ointments, creams or shampoos, and in more serious cases, antifungals in the form of tablets.

Beach ringworm symptoms

The main symptoms of beach mycosis are:

• Light, dark or reddish spots on the skin;
• Multiple spots or plaques on the skin, well defined and oval or rounded;
• Peeling of the skin over the spots;
• Itching in the affected area;
• Itching worsens in hot or rainy seasons;
• Disappearance of spots after summer.

Symptoms of beach mycosis are most common on the back, chest, neck or arms, but it can also affect the face, especially in children, and, if left untreated, the spots can slowly increase in size over time, potentially causing come together and form larger spots.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of beach mycosis is made by a dermatologist through the evaluation of symptoms, health history and physical examination, analyzing the characteristics of the spots on the skin.

In addition, the doctor can also perform the examination using the Wood’s lamp, which allows the skin spots to be assessed in more detail. Understand what it is for and how the Wood’s lamp exam is performed.

Another test that the doctor may request to confirm the diagnosis is a laboratory analysis of the scaling of the spots, which allows the fungus to be identified. Malassezia open, and rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as vitiligo, Tinea corporis or pityriasis rosea, for example.

Possible causes

Beach mycosis is caused by the fungus Malassezia furfur, which can be found on healthy skin, especially in more oily areas such as the face, scalp and back, without causing the disease.

However, due to changes such as genetic predisposition, weakening of the immune system, hormonal changes or exposure to heat and humidity, this fungus can multiply and cause beach mycosis.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of beach mycosis must be carried out under the guidance of a dermatologist who may recommend the use of antifungal medicines, which can be applied to the affected area or used in the form of oral tablets.

Thus, the main antifungals that may be recommended by the dermatologist are:

• Ointment or creamsuch as ketoconazole, clotrimazole or terbinafine;
• Aqueous solution, gel or shampoosuch as 20% sodium hyposulfite, 2.5% selenium sulfide, sulfur and salicylic acid, ciclopirox olamine or ketoconazole;
• Pill or capsulesuch as itraconazole or fluconazole.

Even after treatment, the skin may continue to have blemishes, because it takes some time for the blemishes to produce melanin again in order to even out the skin tone.

Furthermore, the infection can return again, especially when the weather is hot and humid and, in these cases, it may be necessary to undergo prevention treatment, which consists of using antifungals in the form of tablets, once or twice a month.