What advice should I provide to patients regarding the recurrence of p

Guideline-aligned answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Advice to patients regarding the risk of recurrence of pityriasis versicolor after treatment:

Inform patients that pityriasis versicolor commonly recurs, especially during warm, humid conditions such as summer months.
Treatment is usually effective, but recurrence is common and may require repeated courses of antifungal therapy.
Re-pigmentation of the skin after successful treatment can take several weeks to months; persistence of skin discoloration does not indicate treatment failure.
For prevention of recurrence, patients can consider prophylactic use of ketoconazole 2% shampoo once every 2–4 weeks for up to 6 months after initial treatment.
Before exposure to warm, humid environments or sunshine (e.g., travel abroad), prophylactic treatment with ketoconazole shampoo once daily for up to 3 days can be used to reduce relapse risk.
Emphasize that pityriasis versicolor is not contagious and is not related to poor hygiene.

These points help patients understand the chronic nature of the condition and the importance of adherence to treatment and preventive measures.

References:

What advice should I provide to patients regarding the recurrence of pityriasis versicolor after treatment?