Dry, flaky, brown patches of skin on body

[jennifer380]

I'm a 22-year-old female with olive skin. I have splotchy, brown patches of skin on my back, stomach, and upper arms. My dermatologist has determined that it isn't tinea versicolor--the patches didn't respond to anti-fungal treatments. However, I noticed that the prescription 2.5% selenium sulfide (which I applied overnight and washed off in the morning, once weekly) eventually dried parts of my skin out to the point where the brown patches actually started to flake off and reveal my normal skin underneath, which was thrilling.

What could this be and would it be okay if I continued to keep trying to dry my skin out further to help it flake off faster? Is there a better solution? Thanks for any help!

[Chenna234]

I have the exact, EXACT same problem I’m a 17 yr old I’ve been having this skin issue for a while and nothing works. My derm recommend antifungal pills but they didn’t really work. I have to do the same thing as you and wait till my my skin patch is dry enough so I can wash/flake it off, then my skin will look normal again. After a week or so my dryness would come back again. If you have found a remedy or anything that is helping you with this skin condition please let me know!! :) thanks..

[jennifer380]

Hi! I'm the original poster. I'm 30 now, and I will say that after a while (maybe a year?), the problem completely disappeared. I no longer experience dark patches on my skin that flake off. To this day, I still don't know what exactly caused it, but I want to say that the selenium sulfide helped at least facilitate the sloughing of my skin. There was a point where it was peeling off me in sheets, so much that I used a lint roller to get it all off (gross, I know lol).

I know antifungal products (such as dandruff shampoo, Lotrimin for athlete's foot, etc.) have some type of ingredient (selenium sulfide, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, etc) that helps kill yeast and shed flaky skin, and I used to apply it to my skin for 10-15 minutes and then wash it off, but do this at your own risk. It's worth a trip to the dermatologist first. Good luck!

[PMZ1954]

Excuse my text i use the mic

[Jessican4]

Have you found anything that has yet remedied your dark patches? I believe that I might have the same issue. I have been to my Dr. which first advised to get anti-fungul cream over the counter which of course did not work, then I was prescribed oral and cream for fungus and then did not work. So, if you have found anything that works please let me know.

[PMZ1954]

I live in Southwest Florida and I have the same problem they're like large freckles I'm getting on my legs and arms if you scratch them though peel right off

[jennifer380]

Hi, thanks so much for the reply.

I probably should have initially mentioned more of the treatments I've undergone in the previous post. I went through these medications in this order:

- 2.5% Selenium Sulfide (2 weeks, no improvement aside from drying out my skin)
- Oral antifungal, 1 per day for 5 days (no improvement)
- Fluocinonide Cream USP, 0.05% (2 weeks, no improvement)
- Econazole Nitrate Cream, 1% (2 weeks, no improvement)

After these all failed, my derm opted for a biopsy. The results came back simply stating that the discoloration was post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation with no signs of fungus. I have never had anything done or happen to me that would inflame such huge areas of my body, so this made no sense to me; I rarely even go out in the sun (I live in Southern California where the weather is very dry). I should also note that this only really got this bad around a year or two ago.

My derm had nothing more to offer in terms of treatment, so my only option was to just try getting a second opinion, which I haven't done. It was then that I realized my skin was dry and flaking, so I figured I could treat my skin myself. Would it maybe be a good idea to use some kind of chemical exfoliant like a peel or lactic or glycolic acid?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be pityriasis versicolor or seborrheic dermatitis. It is usually caused by overgrowth of Malassezia furfur. This skin disease commonly affects adolescents and young adults, especially in warm and humid climates and is aggravated by sweating and humidity.

Topical antifungals and mild steroids are the usual treatment and combination of the two can be used to treat stubborn patches. Oral antifungal drugs and immunomodulators such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are used in very severe cases. The other possibilities are of eczema, lupus erythematosus or dermatitis. Best would be to consult a dermatologist and get biopsy skin done to confirm the diagnosis.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.