Evaluation of the clinical, mycological and demographic features of pityriasis versicolor patients

Introduction and Aim: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common fungal skin infection caused by Malassezia species. PV has a worldwide distribution, but it is more common in tropical countries. Clinical features of PV include either hyperpigmented or hypopigmented finely scaly macular lesions. The sites most commonly affected are the upper trunk, but there is often spread to the upper arms, the neck and the abdomen. Despite its benign nature, PV can lead to emotional distress, self‐consciousness, and social stigmatization. Although different epidemiological features have been reported for PV, epidemiological information of PV in our country is limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical, demographic and microbiological findings of patients with PV. Material and methods: In this study, 97 patients with a diagnosis of PV between the ages of 0-80 who applied to the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Dermatology Outpatient Clinic between 01 May 2021 and 31 December 2021 were evaluated prospectively. Demographic information, lesion characteristics, lesion sites, PV risk factors and mycological evaluation results of the patients were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 27.2 ± 10.6 years (11-64 years). 22.7% (n=22) of the patients were between the ages of 11-20, 47.4% (n=46) were between the ages of 21-30. The male/female sex ratio of the patients was 1.2/1. Living in area with hot and humid climate (100%), oily skin (46.4%), tight clothes (33%) and hyperhidrosis (30.9%) were the most commonly associated predisposing factors. Pigmented form (hyperpigmented) was observed in 77.4% of the patients, while the acromic form (hypopigmented) was observed in 19.6%. The most common lesion sites were anterior trunk (77.3%), back (53.6%), neck (53.6%) and upper extremity (42.3%), respectively. The most common systemic comorbidities accompanying PV patients were psychiatric diseases (5.2%) and asthma (4.1%). The most common dermatological diseases accompanying PV patients were acne vulgaris (33%) and seborrheic dermatitis (16.5%). Among the treatments, topical antifungals were the most preferred treatments (35.1%). Mycological evaluation results were positive in 87.6% (n=85) of the patients. Conclusion: Knowing the epidemiology of PV in our country will raise awareness about PV and enable easier diagnose of PV. Key words: Pityriasis versicolor, Epidemiology, Clinicomycology