From the FDA Drug Label
For treatment of tinea versicolor: Apply to affected areas and lather with a small amount of water. Allow product to remain on skin for 10 minutes, then rinse the body thoroughly. Repeat procedure once a day for 7 days. For treatment of tinea versicolor: Apply to affected areas and lather with a small amount of water. Allow to remain on skin for 10 minutes. Rinse body thoroughly. Repeat this procedure once a day for 7 days.
The recommended treatment for tinea versicolor is to apply selenium sulfide (TOP) to affected areas, lather with a small amount of water, and allow it to remain on the skin for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. This procedure should be repeated once a day for 7 days 1 1.
- Key points:
- Apply to affected areas
- Lather with a small amount of water
- Remain on skin for 10 minutes
- Rinse body thoroughly
- Repeat once a day for 7 days
From the Research
The recommended treatment for tinea versicolor is topical antifungal therapy, which has a better safety profile and lower cost compared to systemic treatment. According to the most recent and highest quality study 2, topical antifungal therapy is the treatment of choice for most patients with tinea versicolor. The study suggests that topical treatments such as selenium sulfide 2.5% shampoo, ketoconazole 2% shampoo, or topical antifungal creams like clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine can be effective in treating the condition.
Some key points to consider when treating tinea versicolor include:
- Topical antifungal therapy is typically first-line for mild to moderate cases
- Oral antifungal medications such as fluconazole or itraconazole may be prescribed for widespread or recurrent infections
- Maintenance therapy, such as using selenium sulfide or ketoconazole shampoo once monthly, may be recommended to prevent recurrence
- The condition is caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, which can proliferate in warm, humid conditions
It's also important to note that even after successful treatment, skin discoloration may persist for weeks or months as the skin needs time to repigment. The study 2 provides an updated review of the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of tinea versicolor, and supports the use of topical antifungal therapy as the primary treatment option. Additionally, the study 3 provides evidence-based dosing regimen recommendations for systemic treatments, which can be used in cases where topical therapy is not effective.