Keep Skin Moist To Boost Cell Turnover
While your primary goal with hyperpigmentation is to lighten the dark spots, an effective over-the-counter product should contain ingredients that benefit the skin in other ways. In addition to addressing the pigment issues, a good product will have moisturizing agents like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and maybe even a retinol to boost cell turnover, says Doris Day, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Medical School in New York City and author of Beyond Beautiful: Using the Power of Your Mind and Aesthetic Breakthroughs to Look Naturally Young and Radiant. These inactive ingredients allow the active brighteners to work more effectively. A good moisturizer can also restore the skins lipid barrier, helping to further protect it from the suns damaging rays, notes Harvard Health.
Read Also: Home Remedies For Infected Eczema
Hypopigmented Spots That Are Not Vitiligo
If the spots are not truly white, but hypopigmented and not depigmented , then they are NOT vitiligo and could be any number of different diseases and conditions. Ill list a few of the most common ones here. Both IGH and nevus depigmentosus can also be hypopigmented instead of depigmented. They look similar and are located on the same areas of the body. Nevus anemicus is a common birthmark that looks lighter than surrounding skin, although it is actually not different in pigment at all. It is due to a lower blood supply to that area of skin, so it is less pink than surrounding skin and thus looks lighter. It actually disappears completely for a few seconds when you apply pressure to the area because the surrounding blood in the vessels is pressed out. It reappears once the blood rushes back into it. Individuals with tuberous sclerosis can have light areas of skin called ash leaf spots, but they usually have other more cleare signs of this condition as well. Occasionally, darker skin from melasma can make it look like the normal skin is lighter, and thus could look a little like vitiligo.
Melasma
Tinea versicolor causes lighter spots on the chest and back, get scaly if scratched with a fingernail, and are caused by a common fungus that isnt dangerous. Its easily treated with an antifungal therapy.
Tinea versicolor
Progressive macular hypomelanosis looks a lot like tinea versicolor but without the scale, most commonly affecting the chest and back.
Pityriasis albaMorphea
Medical Treatment For Eczema
Eczema cant be cured. But it can be managed by preventing and treating flare-ups as soon as they appear.
If your childs skin is inflamed and itchy, theyll probably need some corticosteroid ointment or cream. For mild eczema, you can buy mild corticosteroids over the counter at your pharmacy. The most common is hydrocortisone 1% cream. For more serious eczema or if the over-the-counter products arent working, youll need to see your GP to get a prescription for a stronger corticosteroid.
Other eczema treatments include pimecrolimus, a non-steroidal cream. Doctors might prescribe this cream for children with mild to moderate eczema on the face and in body folds.
If your child is scratching at a rash, you could ask your pharmacist or GP about using an antihistamine medication for a few days. Together with a corticosteroid cream, this might give your child some rest and help the flare-up to settle.
If your childs eczema rash gets infected, your doctor will prescribe a course of oral antibiotics.
Recommended Reading: How Do Babies Develop Eczema
Some Complications May Leave Scars
However, these are very rare.
Eczema can sometimes become superinfected with bacterial germs such as staphylococcus or streptococcus or with the herpes virus. Once again, this impetigo or herpes usually heals without scarring because it only affects the epidermis. Nevertheless, if scratching is excessive or if the infection goes deeper, scars may persist, as is sometimes seen after chicken pox.
ADVICE CATEGORIES
Eczema Coping Tips Good Hygiene
Skin affected by eczema is more vulnerable to a range of infections, including impetigo, cold sores and warts. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus may cause a secondary infection of impetigo, and possibly contribute to the symptoms of eczema.Suggestions for washing include:
- Take lukewarm baths or showers, and avoid really hot showers.
- Dont use ordinary soap, as the ingredients may aggravate your eczema. Wash your body with warm water alone. For armpits and groin, use soap-free products, such as sorbolene cream.
- Bath oils can help to moisturise your skin while bathing.
- When towelling dry, pat rather than rub your skin.
Read Also: Eczema On Hands Not Going Away
Eczema Coping Tips Diet
In most cases, eczema isnt caused or made worse by diet. If you notice that your eczema seems to get worse after eating a particular food, you may be an exception to this. See your doctor or dietitian for proper allergy testing and dietary advice.Never self-diagnose or you risk depriving yourself of enjoyable and nutritious foods for no good reason. Unnecessarily avoiding certain foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Treatment Of White Spots On Skin
- Tinea- For a mild fungal infection, you can try some OTC antifungal medicines. You can also try some antifungal shampoos like selenium sulfide and miconazole.
Such medicines and shampoos can remove the infection and lessen the spots. Your skin will eventually return to its original texture.
In case your symptoms persist, pay a visit to your dermatologist.
- Pityriasis that is mild usually improves on its own. However, extreme cases require intensive treatment.
You can treat these white patches with the help of dermatologist-approved creams and medicines.
- Even Milia doesnt require any treatment. Your white spots will clear up on their own. However, if they dont, then contact your doctor to seek treatment in the form of topical medicines.
Extreme cases might require cryotherapy.
- Guttate Hypomelanosis spots on your skin are not that worrisome. The scaly spots or patches on your skin are treated using creams and cryotherapy.
In some other cases, these harmless white spots can develop into larger white marks. If this happens, you might need to get your skin drafted.
- Vitiligo is a skin disorder that, unfortunately, has no cure. However, you can try to stop it from spreading more.
Avoid sun exposure and see your dermatologist get some expert advice. Doctors try a variety of therapies like steroids, phototherapy, and ultraviolet light therapy to restore the color of your skin.
You can choose to embrace your skin patches and normalize them. Another option is to use cosmetics.
Read Also: How To Soothe Eczema On Baby
Causes Of White Spots On Skin
While the exact cause of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is unknown, it is thought to be caused by a decrease in melanin production. Exposure to ultraviolet light causes damage to the skin cells that produce melanin, which gives skin its color.
The decrease in melanin production may also be caused by structural differences in the skin. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis tends to run in families, so genetics may also play a role.
Overall, research is still unclear about the exact cause, but sun exposure is thought to be the main factor.
Are Hyperpigmentation Scars Permanent
Hyperpigmentation is not really a scar:
- Hyperpigmentation looks like a bruise, or freckles.
- Although it leaves a mark over a period of time, it does not exert any permanent damage on the follicle.
- The blemishes are flat. They are not hollow or inflated, simply a little darker than other portions of the skin.
Acne scars are the result of a loss of tissue, and this, in turn, causes an area on the skin with holes, or also an unjustified growth of tissue that can leave a scar.
Recommended Reading: Best Healing Cream For Eczema
Recommended Reading: Why Would I Suddenly Get Eczema
Maybe Its Not Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin that causes white spots. Its pretty distinctive and is frequently diagnosed by a dermatologist simply by looking at it, often with the aid of a special light called a Woods lamp. But Ive seen patients in my Vitiligo Clinic, some whove traveled a very long distance , who didnt actually have vitiligo, but had diseases that looked like vitiligo. Sometimes Ive had vitiligo patients who notice new spots on their bodies that they think are vitiligo, but theyre something else, often things that are even easier to treat. So, if youre wondering if you have vitiligo but arent sure, maybe this blog will help you figure that out, and clarify whats distinct to vitiligo versus its lookalikes!
White Spots On Skin Dots Patches Pictures Small Fungus Sun Causes Treatment & Home Remedies
White spots on skin usually occur in the form of small dots or as patches. There are many possible causes of white spots on your skin, including sun and fungus. The white spots can be unsightly, especially when they appear in open parts of your body such as your face, as the pictures inserted in this post show. However, you can get rid of them with medical treatments and home remedies, depending on what causes them.
Also Check: What Is The Best Body Wash For Babies With Eczema
Eczema In Infants And Children
It is very distressing for parents to see their toddlers and infants suffer from eczema. According to the National Eczema Association, around 10% of all infants in the U.S. suffer from some form of infant eczema.2
The appearance of infant eczema is different from eczema in older children and adults. Depending on the age of your infant, patches of eczema appear in different places. According to the National Eczema Association, the stages of infant eczema are as follows:2
- Babies under 6 months. Red patches of weepy skin around your babys face and on the scalp.
- Babies from 6 to 12 months. Patches of eczema develop around the elbows and knees. If these patches become infected, then pus bumps can occur which turn crusty when the pus dries.
- Toddlers from 2 to 5 years. Your toddlers eczema thickens and have the appearance of dry, scaly, and inflamed skin. Outbreaks of eczema may be more common around the mouth and eyelids.
How Is Pityriasis Alba Diagnosed
Pityriasis alba is usually a clinical diagnosis but may be confused with several other disorders that cause hypopigmentation.
To exclude these, investigations may include:
- Wood lamp examination: the hypopigmentation of pityriasis alba does not enhance, and there is no fluorescence
- Scrapings for mycology: microscopy and fungal culture are negative in pityriasis alba
- Skin biopsy: biopsy is rarely required, but may reveal mildly spongiotic dermatitis and reduction in melanin.
Recommended Reading: Is Mustela Good For Eczema
What Are The Potential Complications Of White Patches
White patches result of a variety of causes, but they are usually mild and not associated with complications. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:
- Cosmetic disfigurement
- Further hypopigmentation
- Scarring
How Different Skin Types Are Affected
The features of eczema differ depending on the persons skin type.
On paler skin, the typical pattern is inflamed, red or dark pink patches, with dry itchy skin, which in severe flares may ooze with small vesicles .
On darker skin, inflammation is more difficult to detect, as it is seen as various stages of hyper-pigmentation and is more subtle, so often redness is not seen. As a result, the severity of eczema can be underestimated.
Post-inflammatory hypo- and hyper-pigmentation are a much greater concern in people with darker skin, as it can take months for this to resolve and the discoloration can sometimes be a greater concern than the eczema itself.
Another feature of eczema, more commonly found in darker skin, is follicular prominence. This is where the eczema appears in small, itchy bumps or papules on the skin mainly on the trunk and forearms. Dry skin and scale can also be more prominent, as its white or grey colour shows up most noticeably.
A UK longitudinal study into ethnic variations in atopic eczema reported that children with darker skin were more likely to develop atopic eczema than their white counterparts and were six times more likely to develop severe eczema.
Don’t Miss: Best Body Wash For Eczema Australia
Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis Is A Cause For White Spots On The Skin
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a disorder that causes 1 to 10 mm flat white spots to occur, typically on the shins, arms upper back and face. It is usually found in fair-skinned individuals but can also occur in dark-skin. While the exact cause is unknown, they often begin to form as a person ages, usually appearing in those 40 years or older.
The spots are benign and are thought to be brought on by sun exposure, which kills melanocyte cells in the skin. No treatment is usually needed but preventative measures to block against sun damage should be taken. Topical steroids, creams, and dermabrasion can be used to minimize the appearance of the spots.
Facts About White Patches:
People suffering from this condition may feel bad about how they carry themselves in public, as they might feel a lot more depressed about their looks. So, now that you know what white patches are, let us understand some important facts that surround this skin condition.
- This skin condition is not contagious
- Your child may also end up suffering from this skin condition if one or even both parents are suffering from this condition.
- This skin condition can lead to thyroid disorders.
- This skin condition is often mistaken for leprosy by many.
- It can happen to anyone at any age but most cases are reported to be before the age group of 20 years.
- Treatment for this skin condition only aims at stopping the depigmentation of the skin and help your skin regain its colour.
- Stress is said to be one of the main reasons for this skin condition.
Note: If you spot any sort of white patch on your skin, it is strictly advised that you consult a doctor at the earliest. This will at least prevent the disease from growing and promote repigmentation of discoloured skin.
Don’t Miss: What To Do To Help Eczema
What Causes White Patches
White patches are usually caused by one of two conditions: tinea versicolor or vitiligo. Less commonly, white patches on the skin can be caused a skin inflammation known as eczema.
versicolor is a type of fungal infection that leads to the development of white patches. The patches can appear anywhere on your body, depending on where the fungus grows. The white patches seen in are the result of an autoimmune disorder. In vitiligo, the bodyâs immune system mistakenly targets melanocytes, the cells that produce your skin pigment, as a foreign substance. When these cells are destroyed, the lack of skin pigment causes white patches. Eczema is a condition where the skin is overly sensitive to common allergens and becomes scaly, itchy, and sometimes white.
The Vast Majority Of Skin Problems Can Be Helped With A Natural Approach
- A good liver tonic such as Livatone Plus is vital to support the livers ability to detoxify and eliminate.
- Your liver has a high requirement for the antioxidants found in vegetables, particularly leafy greens. Antioxidants help to protect your liver cells from damage while they are detoxifying your bloodstream. The antioxidants in vegetables also help to protect your skin cells from free radicals, and therefore premature aging. Ideally you would consume one or two large vegetable salads each day. Some of the vegetables you consume should be raw.
- Omega 3 supplements either fish oil or vegan DHA. Some chronic skin problems, such as very dry skin, dermatitis or psoriasis require large doses of fish oil doses vary from two to four capsules three times daily just before food. Fish oil does thin the blood, so please check with your doctor if you are taking blood thinning medication.
- Selenium this can be taken as one tablet daily or Selenomune capsules one capsule daily. Selenium is a mineral that exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the body and is necessary for the production of the antioxidant glutathione.
These nutritional supplements can reduce inflammation in the skin and support the detoxification pathways in the liver.
The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
Also Check: Things That Cause Eczema Flare Ups
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Pompholyx Eczema
Eczema Causes White Spots On The Skin
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that causes red, itchy and dry skin as a result of inflammation. Sometimes white patches or spots can form within a red rash. This condition is typically found in children but can continue into adulthood. Eczema symptoms include dry, scaly, thickened skin that is almost always itchy. Especially among darker skinned people, eczema can cause skin discoloration, making the affected area lighter or darker than the surrounding skin.
The cause of eczema is unknown but it is thought to be linked to allergies and asthma and is suspected to be an overactive immune response to an irritant. While there is no cure for the condition, symptoms can be managed. For many people, eczema will even go away over time. Doctors can prescribe topical corticosteroid creams and ointments, oral medications and light therapy to help ease symptoms.
Peeling From Sun Exposure
It is typical for people with lighter or olive skin to get tanned after spending a day at the beach or pool, but with excessive sun exposure, skin can peel a few days later. Skin that has peeled can cause small white patches to appear, especially on the arms, chest and back.
What to do: It is important to moisturize your skin daily, and to always apply sunscreen before going into the sun. Skin that is thinner or more sensitive has a higher risk of being sunburnt. Ideally, you should moisturize your skin thoroughly for about 10 days before a day in the sun. Foods that are high in vitamin A can also help to prevent sunburns. The more hydrated the skin is, the lower the risk of peeling and developing blemishes.
You May Like: Best Lip Treatment For Eczema