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Tinea versicolor, a common skin condition caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast, is primarily treated with topical antifungal preparations. Topical selenium sulfide is particularly effective because it helps to reduce the yeast population on the skin, leading to resolution of the discoloration and any associated symptoms. This treatment works by altering the environment on the skin surface, making it less hospitable for the yeast to thrive.

Other treatment options may include oral antifungals, which are typically reserved for more extensive or recalcitrant cases of tinea versicolor, but they are not the first-line treatment. Topical corticosteroids are often used for inflammatory skin conditions but are not effective against the yeast causing tinea versicolor. Surgical intervention is not applicable to this condition, as tinea versicolor does not require invasive procedures for treatment. Thus, topical selenium sulfide stands out as the most appropriate and effective initial therapy for managing tinea versicolor.