Haole Rot or as they call it in the medical field Tinea Versicolor is a common skin fungal infection.

It affects all ages and develops from sweat mixing with an overgrowth of yeast on the skin’s surface. Haole rot is usually more noticeable with sun exposure as all areas of your skin get tan except for where you have the fungus. If you are prone to Haole Rot, avoid excessive heat and sweating and do not moisturize your skin. Do not use moisturizing sunscreens or Lanolin-containing moisturizing soaps. Instead dry your skin. Even though this is a dry, scaly infection, lubricants “feed the fungus”, so no moisturizers, please. Also to help reduce yeast in your body, try eliminating or reducing sugary carbohydrates. Fortunately Haole Rot can be treated with a topical or oral medication prescribed by a doctor, and it takes only a week to two weeks to go away, depending on the severity of it. The infection can stay on clothing and towels so be sure to wash towels and clothing daily and change your bedding for the first few days of treating the skin fungus. It is a hassle but well worth getting rid of it for good! “Haole rot is extremely common,” adds Tenby. “I probably see two to three cases each week. My patients will come in for something else and I’ll notice it and say let’s treat that.” Haole rot is not cancerous and not a major health hazard. In fact, you can live your entire life without treating it. However, Tenby suggests having any white spots or discoloring of the skin checked to make sure that it’s just haole rot and nothing more serious. And while I’ve heard from more than just a few people that applying Selsun Blue to haole rot affected areas can get rid of it, the doctors I spoke to do not recommend it. “We used to use Selsun Blue because it has selenium sulfide, but the product now may be too toxic for your skin and it doesn’t work,” says Tenby. “The medication that I would treat it with is like an acne wash or benzyl peroxide.” So if you love the sun as I do, stay away from people with haole rot. Or at least don’t share towels with them.

Ways to prevent haole rot:

* Use your own towel at all times.

* Avoid moist contact with someone you know who has it.

* For people who have a history of haole rot, avoid excessive heat and sweating.

Tinea Versicolor is a common skin fungal infection that affects all ages and develops from sweat mixing with an overgrowth of yeast on the skin’s surface. It usually develops on the oily areas of the body such as chest, back, neck and upper arms but it is not limited to those areas, although it rarely occurs on the face. Tinea Versicolor appears as blotchy spots that may be white, pink or tan and is not contagious. Contary to some beliefs, it is not caused by the sun or tanning beds, although hot, humid conditions do promote its growth and it can cause mild to major itching. If left untreated for a long period, it can develop into red, itchy bumps along with the discolored patches of skin.

~~Find Out What is Causing It~~

Finding out the cause of Tinea Versicolor is a big part of the cure as it tends to reoccur often if measures are not taken to prevent another outbreak. Some of the causes of this annoying skin infection are a weak immune system, hormone imbalances, birth control pills, steroids, sweating in hot, humid conditions like gym workouts and a high carbohydrate, sugary diet. These can all promote an abundance of yeast in the body and on the surface of the skin.

~~Change Your Diet~~

Changing your diet will help to stop re-occurrences of Tinea Versicolor and make you and your skin feel healthier, too. To help reduce yeast in your body, try eliminating or reducing sugary carbohydrates. Switch to probiotic and anti fungal foods like yogurt, sea salt, miso, kimchi, cultured vegetables, tahini, sweet potatoes, raw pumpkin seeds, citrus fruits, garlic, onion and organic coconut. Drinks such as clove tea, kombucha, kifer, lemon water and a teaspoon of raw apple cider or baking soda in a glass of water also help to curb yeast.

~~Take Antifungal Supplements and Vitamins~~

Take supplements that are anti fungal to help stop the growth if it in your body. Oil of Oregano extract is a good one as well as Paul D’Arco extract, Olive Leaf extract, Grapefruit Seed extract, Zinc, MSM, vitamin B 6, Chlorophyll, and a whole food multi vitamin.

~~Take Healing Baths~~

Take baths up to three times a day with one of these anti fungal remedies: Epsom salts, raw apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, Bentonite Clay, organic dandruff shampoos, natural sulfur or mud soaps, and oatmeal. Dry off with a clean towel and rub a small amount of coconut oil mixed with a little Tea Tree oil or unflavored yogurt on your skin. Try to keep skin fairly dry by applying baking soda, sandalwood or turmeric powder in between baths.

~~Use Anti Fungal Ointments~~

The best anti fungal ointments are ones without harmful chemicals that get into your skin but sometimes the stronger ones are all that will kill Tinea Versicolor. Some of the store brands are also used for Athlete’s Foot or vaginal yeast infections. Derman Antifungal Cream is an inexpensive foot fungus cream that helps a lot, Tinactin spray, Miconazole or Monistat cream also works. The best prescription cream is Clotrimazole with Betamethasone but you can also find Clotrimazole in the Athlete’s Foot section of the store. Another very effective ointment that is natural is Saprox, a mineral mud that has great results and can be found easily online.

~~Wash Bedding, Towels And Clothing~~

This is crucial to prevent Tinea Versicolor from reoccurring after taking the other steps. The infection can stay on clothing and towels so be sure to change every piece of clothing daily, use clean towels and washcloths daily and change your bedding for the first few days of treating the skin fungus. Make sure you wash towels and washcloths in hot water and your clothes that can be, also. It is a hassle but will be worth getting rid of it for good