1
Tell us what's going on
Upload a few clear photos and answer a short set of questions. A board-certified dermatologist reviews everything and confirms what's most likely happening.
Tinea Versicolor
Spots that won't tan with the rest of your skin.
Even out the patches.
Get care from a board-certified dermatologist familiar with tinea versicolor. You'll get a real diagnosis and a treatment plan, including a prescription when it's clinically appropriate, to clear the yeast and even out the patches over time.
Tinea versicolor flares seasonally for most people, especially during heat and humidity. Kyn Care covers ongoing dermatologic care, prescription access when clinically appropriate, follow-ups, and a maintenance routine that cuts down how often it comes back.
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Yeast that disrupts the skin's pigment production
Tinea versicolor is caused by Malassezia overgrowing on the skin and producing compounds that interfere with melanin production in the affected areas. The result is patches that are lighter or darker than your surrounding skin, often most visible after sun exposure.
It's common, harmless to your overall health, and very treatable. With the right antifungal, the yeast clears. The discoloration itself takes time to even out, since pigment production needs time to recover.
It tends to come back during hot, humid months. A maintenance routine cuts down the frequency.
Signs you might have tinea versicolor
- Light or dark patches on chest, back, shoulders, or upper arms
- Patches that don't tan with the rest of your skin
- Fine, powdery scale when scratched
- More visible in summer or after sun exposure
- Returning year after year, especially in heat or humidity
How online care works
Start a Kynsultation anytime, anywhere, in three simple steps.
2
Get a plan that makes sense
You'll receive a written treatment plan with prescriptions if needed, routine guidance that won't work against your skin, and a realistic timeline for what to expect.
3
Keep it under control
Fungal acne, seb derm, dandruff, and tinea versicolor can come back. Your plan can adjust as your skin responds, with check-ins built in so you're not figuring it out alone.
How we treat tinea versicolor
Your provider reviews your photos and intake, confirms the diagnosis, and prescribes a topical antifungal (e.g., ketoconazole). The cause clears with a course of treatment. Pigment evens out gradually as your skin recovers, and an ongoing routine keeps the patches from coming back when humidity hits.
Treatments a dermatologist may consider
Ketoconazole
Antifungal cream 2%
Selenium Sulfide
Wash/lotion maintenance
A full plan may start with antifungal clearance and add maintenance for heat and sweat seasons. Pigment changes can lag for weeks or months after the yeast is controlled, so even tone usually comes from staying clear, time, and sun protection. Your clinician decides what's right for your skin. Not every plan includes a prescription.
Learn more about ketoconazole for Malassezia-related skin conditions.
Your visit covers a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified dermatologist, whether or not a prescription is appropriate. Any medication is filled at the pharmacy you choose and billed there.
Common questions about tinea versicolor
How long until the patches even out?
The yeast itself is usually treated in 2 to 4 weeks. The pigment evens out over the weeks following treatment as your skin's pigment production recovers. It's normal for the patches to be visible for a while after the active infection is cleared.
Why does it keep coming back every summer?
Heat and humidity are the perfect environment for Malassezia to overgrow. Tinea versicolor relapses seasonally for many people. The recurring plans cover prevention so you don't start from scratch each year.
Is it dangerous or contagious?
Not dangerous to your overall health and not contagious. Malassezia lives on nearly all human skin; the condition is local overgrowth in your specific environment, not a transmission.
What does the prescription typically cover?
If your provider decides a prescription is the right call, that typically means a topical antifungal (e.g., ketoconazole) applied for a couple of weeks. Most cases clear with a single short course.
Can sun exposure make it worse?
Sun makes the patches more visible, since the affected areas can't tan with the rest of your skin. The condition itself is mostly driven by heat, humidity, and oil production, not sunlight directly.
Do I need a video call or in-person visit?
No video call needed. Every consultation starts async: a written intake plus photos, with a clinician reply usually within 48 hours. If you'd rather speak live, you can request a video call from your dashboard for an extra $15. If your clinician needs more photos to diagnose, that can add a day or two.
Clear the patches, keep them clear.
Submit your intake, get a written diagnosis, and start an ongoing plan that clears the patches and keeps them from coming back.
Get your KynsultationKyn Skyn provides non-emergency dermatology care to US residents 18 and older in states where our clinicians are licensed. This is not a substitute for emergency care. For a medical emergency, call 911. A prescription is issued only when a clinician determines it is appropriate, and individual results vary.