Treatment of pityriasis versicolor in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is a common chronic superficial fungal infection of the skin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of visits for pityriasis versicolor and to assess how it is currently being treated.

METHODS: Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care survey were used from the years 1990-1999.

RESULTS: There were 2.9 million visits per year in which pityriasis (tinea) versicolor was listed as a diagnosis; this corresponds to a visit rate of 110 visits per 100,000 persons per year. Visit rates varied among racial and ethnic groups, with the highest visit rates for black people and American Indians/Eskimos. A total of 76% of the medications listed at visits for pityriasis versicolor are FDA approved for the condition; however, many treatments that were prescribed were not.

CONCLUSIONS: Given that as many as one-quarter of treatments prescribed for this easily treatable condition are inappropriate, continued education of medical practitioners concerning appropriate treatment options is needed.