Lichen pityriasis

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Pityriasis versicolor or pityriasis versicolor is a chronic disease that affects the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Its main distinguishing feature is that when the disease occurs, silver-gray spots appear on the hairs, nails and skin; they look like scales and can be easily removed with nails. If the scaly layers remain in place, this is a sign of the development of pityriasis versicolor in the patient. Scale-like formations of pityriasis scales appear during the fall asleep of the lichen - melasma - they form



Pityriasis versicolor Definition of the disease

Pityriasis versicolor is a dermatophytosis caused by Malassezia spp and is one of the poorly studied dermatoses. The disease occurs in all age groups in different geographical areas. Men and women get sick equally, but children get sick extremely rarely. However, more often they are susceptible to the disease in the first year of life. In veterinary medicine it is found in dogs and cats. The name of the disease arose due to the abundance of white scales - fragments of the stratum corneum; they are clearly visible on the skin when some patients go bald.

Etiology of the disease

The causative agents are fungi of the species Malassezia pachydermatis or Malassyze ovale. If the exact pathogen cannot be determined, then a systemic antifungal drug may be used. Pathogens produce enzymes that help them firmly attach themselves to the epidermis layer on the hairs covering the follicles. They also produce specific melanins that prevent skin infection by bacteria and pathogenic fungi. The disease occurs for two reasons: disruption of the immune system and infection of the skin by the fungus Malassezia рachidermatis. The disease is often accompanied by severe stress in the child, and a concomitant infection may be present. In the countries of the Far East, a disease caused by a fungus of the genus Scytalidium also occurs. If left untreated, the disease quickly becomes complicated by microbial infection. The diagnosis is established on the basis of a microscopic examination of the biopsy: the fungal cells are scattered, oval in shape, resembling grains of rice.

A distinctive feature of the disease is its recurrence; in some patients, seasonality of exacerbations is noted, in