how do you get rid of a bacterial infection of the skin from tanning booths?

21 Comments

1. j says:

   February 26, 2010 at 12:33 pm

   Tinea Versicolor is what you probably have. They can be white, brown, or a red color. It is not due to the tanning bed. It is from bacteria that is naturally on everyone’s skin. Most people can not see it until they develop a tan simply because these spots do not tan. Heat can help them develop but will not cause the bacteria. Dandruff shampoo can help if the bacteria hasn’t developed much.

   Tinea versicolor is cause by a yeast type of skin fungus, which is present on normal skin. If the skin is oily enough, warm enough and moist enough, it starts to grow into small "colonies" on the surface of the skin. In these colonies the yeast grows like crazy and leaks out an acidic bleach. This changes the skin color. The patches are lightly reddish brown on very pale skin but they don’t tan. Because of lack of any tanning, they look like white spots on darker or tanned skin. This is most often seen on the neck, upper chest, upper arms and back. There may be a fine, dry scale on it.

   Usually the infection produces few symptoms, but some people get itching, especially when sweating. The warmer the weather, the worse this condition gets. Tanning booths are warm places, so avoid them. The reasons why some get this problem and others do not are not known.

   A dermatologist can easily recognize this infection, but occasionally it can be mistaken for other skin conditions. If there is any doubt a ‘KOH prep’, a test done quickly in the office, will confirm the diagnosis.

   The infection is treated with either topical or oral medications. In very mild cases, non-prescription antifungal creams (Lotrimin-AF, Micatin) will work. Prescription antifungal lotions and sprays (Oxistat lotion, Lamisil spray) may work better. The most economical effective treatment is to apply an antifungal shampoo (Nizoral, Excel) to the body as if it were soap, but leave it on for some minutes before rinsing.

   For severe, extensive or recurrent cases, a few tablets of Nizoral pills will clear things up. A newer pill, Sporonox, may replace Nizoral for this problem. These will eliminate the fungus and relive any itch and scale. The uneven color of the skin will remain several months, perhaps until one gets a tan again in the next summer.

   Remember, since we all have some of this fungus, no treatment can prevent one from picking it up again forever. In many people, the rash reappears for the next few years. To prevent recurrence, preventative re-treatment with the same medication may be advised. This condition is not seen beyond mid-life, so rest assured it won’t keep coming back forever

   http://www.skinsite.com/info_tinea_versicolor.htm

   I. Definition:

   Tinea versicolor is a chronic skin condition caused by a yeast living on normal skin of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes an itchy scaling rash.

   II. Causes:

   Tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast called Pityrosporon orbiculare.
   People who have tinea versicolor are genetically predisposed to developing a rash when this germ is present on the skin.
   When the yeast grows on untanned skin, the rash is pink to brown. When the yeast grows on tanned skin, the rash looks white because the yeast blocks out the sunlight and the skin where the yeast is growing does not tan. When growing on Asian or African-American skin, the rash can look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin depending on the patient

   III. Treatment:

   There is no permanent cure for tinea versicolor.
   Selenium sulfide 2.5 percent should be applied to the skin, between the neck and the knees, before bed every night for 2 nights and washed off the following morning. After this, use the selenium sulfide once a week to once a month in the above manner to keep the condition under control. MY NOTE: Selenium sulfide is the active ingredient in Selsun Blue

   Resistant cases can be treated with an antifungal cream applied directly to the skin.
   Some doctors use pills to treat this condition. We do not do this because the pills have side effects and offer no permanent solution.
   The uneven pigmentation that can develop from this condition can be improved with daily alpha hydroxyacid lotion application to the involved areas for several months.

   http://www.drgreene.com/21_677.html

   Tinea Versicolor
   What is tinea versicolor? How is it treated?

   Tinea versicolor is a mild, superficial fungal infection, somewhat similar to ringworm (true ringworm can also result in white patches). Since the affected skin doesn’t change color well with sun exposure, it usually becomes apparent as white patches during the summer months. In the winter it may seem to disappear, or even seem to become slightly darkened patches as the surrounding skin gets paler (this is where the name versicolor comes from).

   Tinea versicolor is most common in adolescents and young adults 15 to 30 years old (although it can certainly happen at any age)
2. E-ma says:

   February 26, 2010 at 12:33 pm

   Topical anti-biotic cream Rx from doctor.

   My friend uses for the "flesh eating" MRSA(?) bacteria on her skin.