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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Treatment of pityriasis versicolor in the United States
L A Mellen1, J Vallee, S R Feldman
1Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27175, USA.
Background:
Pityriasis versicolor is a common chronic superficial fungal infection of the skin.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of visits for pityriasis versicolor and to assess how it is currently being treated.
Methods:
Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care survey were used from the years 1990-1999.
Results:
There were 2.9 million visits per year in which pityriasis (tinea) versicolor was listed as a diagnosis; this corresponds to a visit rate of 110 visits per 100,000 persons per year. Visit rates varied among racial and ethnic groups, with the highest visit rates for black people and American Indians/Eskimos. A total of 76% of the medications listed at visits for pityriasis versicolor are FDA approved for the condition; however, many treatments that were prescribed were not.
Conclusions:
Given that as many as one-quarter of treatments prescribed for this easily treatable condition are inappropriate, continued education of medical practitioners concerning appropriate treatment options is needed.
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