Drugs
Patients who have already suffered once from pityriasis versicolor have a significantly increased risk of developing another skin disease caused by the responsible yeast fungus. The prognosis for these patients is therefore rather poor. The use of special drugs (antimycotics) containing the active ingredients ketoconazole, fluconazole or itroconazole can improve the prognosis for those patients in whom external application is not effective even after weeks.
However, in view of the possible side effects of such drugs, their prescription must be thoroughly considered. However, the majority of affected patients only suffer from mild and less pronounced forms of pityriasis versicolor. The regular use of special ointments, gels and shampoos makes the prognosis of these patients much better.
In patients who have already suffered from pityriasis versicolor caused by the yeast fungus and have successfully treated it, the preventive use of selenium sulfide or ketoconazole shampoos can help to reduce the probability of a new outbreak and thus improve the prognosis enormously. In addition, the prognosis of pityriasis versicolor is decisively influenced by the time at which the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is initiated. An early start on the use of anti-fungal agents (antimycotics) ensures in most cases a rapid reduction in fungal infestation.
The prognosis is usually particularly good in these patients. However, the typical white patches caused by the skin infestation may still be visible for several months.
