Answer: Products applied to the skin—creams, shampoos, or solutions—are effective treatments for the fungus that causes tinea versicolor. However, if the rash is severe, covers large areas of your body, returns often, or does not get better with topical treatment, antifungal pills may be prescribed. While treatment kills the fungi quickly, it can take months for the spots to disappear and your skin color to return to normal.Treatment is usually needed to prevent the rash from spreading and to improve the appearance of your skin. If left untreated, tinea versicolor may linger until you are 50 or 60 years old, when the skin becomes less oily.Generally, creams, shampoos, and solutions are thought to be safer than antifungal pills because they mostly affect only your skin. However, topical treatments:Can be inconvenient and messy.May sting and/or smell bad.May be just as expensive as pills.Can take a long time to apply, especially if the rash covers a large area of your body.