Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, dermatomycosis furfuracea and tinea flava, is caused by Malassezia species which are naturally found on the skin surfaces of many animals, including humans.
Patients with tinea versicolor most commonly have multiple macules or patches on the trunk, with skip regions of normal skin in between.
In addition, it is estimated that these species cause most skin disease in humans, including the most common cause of atopic dermatitis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.