What appearance does Tinea versicolor typically exhibit?

Tinea versicolor is a common skin condition caused by an overgrowth of a type of yeast that naturally lives on the skin. It typically presents as small, discolored patches on the skin. These patches can be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin and may vary in color; they often appear on the back, shoulders, and chest but can occur anywhere on the body.

The reason small, discolored patches is the correct representation is that Tinea versicolor disrupts the normal pigmentation of the skin, leading to variances that can be particularly noticeable after sun exposure. This phenomenon arises because the yeast interferes with the skin's ability to tan uniformly.

Other choices, like dry and scaly, oily and shiny, or red and inflamed, do not accurately describe Tinea versicolor. While the skin may appear slightly scaly in some cases, the hallmark sign remains the discolored patches rather than overall dryness or inflammation.