Clinico-epidermiological studies on tinea versicolor

One hundred and twenty patients with tinea versicolor who attended the outpatient department of Dermatology, K.M.C Hospital, Mangalore were studied with reference to their clinical features, age and sex distribution, relation to climate and personal habits. The disease was commonest among the age group of 21-30 years (30%). It was found to be distributed predominantly over the neck (71.6%), chest (58.3%) and back (70%). Inmost of the patients, lesions were observed first and also aggravated during summer months. One fourth of the patients either had systemic diseases or were on immuno-suppressant drugs. The disease was continuous in spite of taking treatment in 21.6% of patients. 38.3% of patients gave a positive family history. Even though the disease is resistant to treatment, avoiding the predisposing factors like increased sweating, sharing the towels and clothes, malnutrition, synthetic clothings will help to control the disease.