Pityriasis versicolor is-it infectious or not?

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to determine whether pityriasis versicolor is an infectious disease or not. Twenty volunteers were studied, ten were normal individuals and the other ten were patients who had a history of infection with Pityriasis versicolor [PV]. Three adhesive plaster tapes were placed on the upper back of each volunteer. The first tape contained Pityrosporum, the second tape Malessezia furfur, and the third tape which was empty was used as control. Two weeks later, all tapes were removed and the skin was re-examined both clinically and mycologically. In those patients with a history of PV, lesions appeared under the first tape in 8 patients [80%], and both under the second and third tapes in 6 patients [60%]. Among the control group, Pityriasis versicolor lesions appeared under the first tape in 2 volunteers [20%], and under both the second and third tapes in one patient each [10%]. These findings indicated that only in the susceptible individuals did these organisms yield P.V. lesions clinically