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I have had Tinea Versicolor for the last 15 years, since I was 15 years old. It began as a small dime-sized patch on my chest and never spread any larger. It wasn't until I was 19 that it began to spread all over my neck, upper chest, and up my neck to my ears, into my hairline and even in my groin area. In the last two years, it has become worse. I used to use dandruff shampoo to treat it, but I am allergic to ingredients in the shampoo. Creams, tea tree oil and other herbal-based creams don't work. The only solution I have found is the direct, light application of organic apple cider vinegar twice a day to clean skin. It takes about one week to begin fading, though I find that care needs to be taken to make sure my skin does not get irritated by the vinegar. By the end of two weeks, the redness and flaking are gone. There are times when the patches get quite red and a bit itchy, and other times that they fade and take on a pearly appearance. I can't pin down what it is -- my diet, environmental factors, hormones, etc. -- that cause them to seem to get quite red at times. My mother tells me my father had the same spots. And though I understand that this condition is not contagious, my partner of five years has now begun developing the same condition alongside his eczema.

I've had it since 1994 and have tried several prescriptions over the years. The only one that makes it go away is Nizoral/Ketoconazole 200mg. I usually get 7 pills and it will go away for about 8 months and come back. Needless to say, they won't prescribe more than 7 and will not do refills. Why, I don't know. Every time I go, they say it shouldn't come back, well, it does. I wish they would come up with something that would make it go away forever! Mine does not itch but it seems to peel off.

I have had tinea versicolor for close to 20 years. Initially, the doctors gave me Selsun and other such topical remedies, but they did little. Finally, discovered Nizoral and a few other anti fungal pills which worked great, but it kept coming back. I was prescribed fluconazole, which is used for yeast infections. It didn't do a thing for the tenia, but my mom has used Apple Cider Vinegar tablets for years for yeast infections. I started taking the ACV and could tell an immediate change in the color of the spots, when I stopped, they were bright red, and when I would take it, they would sort of fade away, although I could still see them. Several months ago I went back to the doctors and got some ketoconazole which killed it off and have been using the ACV ever since and haven't seen it even start back. Usually, within a month or two of a treatment, I'd started getting spots again. I use the Apple Cider Vinegar pills, 3-4 a day and it has been working. I've had this stuff BAD for years and years and feel like I finally found something safe, cheap and easy that works....give it a try.

I've had tinea versicolor for years now, and the only thing that I've found to help the spots go away is to use Benzoyl Peroxide. After trying the shampoo and it not working, I started experimenting with things, and noticed that Zap-Zit acne cream was causing the spots to lighten and eventually go away. Now I just buy store-brand 10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream and slather it on thickly before bed for several days, and after a week or so, the spots start to fade and then go away. It usually stays away for at least six months, but if I notice any coming back, I just spot treat them with the acne cream. I get it very bad in the summer months in any area that I may sweat, such as my neck, back, chest and upper arms. My sister has it also, but she gets the white spots, while I get the brown. It's actually a very common condition in tropical areas, but being from the Northeast, it's quite embarrassing to try and wear a tank top or bathing suit in the summer with the spots!

I noticed these spots reappear (about 10 years later), and I couldn't get into the dermatologist for a couple weeks, so I randomly tried my old Nizoral cream (which was expired), just to do something about it. Surprisingly, it actually worked! I just noticed a flare-up of spots again, and I will try the old trusty tube of cream. If it doesn't work, I will head to the doctor.

I have used shampoo with limited success. Here is what has worked for me: Take one 200 mg ketoconazole tablet with a can of coke, wait 30 to 45 minutes and go get a good cardio workout on. I try to sweat as much as possible. I do not shower, do not towel off the sweat; I dry by a fan or air-dry and sleep without showering. The next morning I shower. Repeat this process in a couple of days and you should be spot-free in no time.