Many people complain about white spots on their skin, but what are they exactly? Are they indicative of a disease or something else? And are these spots permanent or temporary? We understand that you may have many questions about this topic. But do not worry about this, we are here to answer all your questions. We will discuss the factors of white spots on the skin and their treatment as well. Any kind of white spots on your skin can be an alarming sign that you may need help to seek medical attention before it will get worse and begin spreading. Now let’s check out this in this blog.
What are White Spots?
White spots on the skin can be caused by several different conditions. White spots are also known as vitiligo, which is a skin condition that causes skin discoloration, causing your skin to lose its natural color.
In extreme cases, this skin disease can also affect your hair and also inside your mouth area. So the question arises What is vitiligo?
Well, your skin and hair contain melanin, and when melanin is not produced, you can apparently end up suffering from vitiligo
Moreover, this disease is not contagious, but it can reduce your self-confidence in public, and also cause enormous stress. The worst thing about people suffering from this skin discoloration is that it causes depression, and this very thinking causes other mental disorders. Treatment of vitiligo involves restoring the color of the affected skin, but this in no way can prevent further loss of skin color.
Facts About White Spots
Now we know that what are white spots on the skin, let us understand some facts that surround this skin disease.
The following are the factors:
- This skin disease is not contagious
- Your child may also end up suffering from this skin disease if one or even both parents suffer from this disease.
- This skin condition can lead to thyroid diseases.
- Many people often mistake this skin disease for leprosy.
- This can happen to anyone at any age, but it is reported that most cases occur in the under-20 age group.
- The treatment of this skin disease is aimed only at stopping the depigmentation of the skin and helping your skin to regain its color.
- It is believed that stress is one of the main causes of this skin condition.
Causes and Treatment Of White Spots
White pots on the skin can affect anyone, Now it’s time to understand how is this skin disease caused and also the main cause of this disease.
White spots are considered not a serious skin disease, but a serious mental illness because they can affect a person’s psyche and his/her environment.
Here are some of the skin conditions that cause white spots and their treatments :
1. Milia
They are spots of white bumps on your face. Not much is known about these little white bumps, but they are not dangerous and do not need treatment.
Most often they appear on the faces of infants. Anybody can get them on any part of the body. You may hear that milia (one of them is milium) are called milk seeds or oilseeds. This is a common defect that affects from 40% to 50% of newborns.
Treatment:
If your doctor diagnoses primary milia in an infant, no treatment is required, since the disease will pass by itself within a few weeks.
If your child has secondary milia, the doctor will most likely treat another skin disease in this area if it is still present. Other treatments for milia include:
- Topical retinoid creams such as tazarotene, tretinoin, or adapalene
- Removal with a sterile blade (lancet) or scalpel followed by the use of a special tool called a comedones extractor
- A series of fruit acid peels or microdermabrasion procedures at the office of dermatologist
2. Eczema
This is a skin condition that looks red and causes redness and bumps. It affects your arms, legs, elbows, eyelids, wrists, and knees.
Treatment:
Eczema treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms. You may be able to reduce your symptoms with active behaviors that keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
You can follow these tips:
- Use mild cleansers instead of harsh soaps.
- Treat the rash with medicated creams.
- Keep your skin moisturized.
- Avoid taking too long and hot showers or baths.
- Wear gloves when using cleaning solvents.
- Use all-natural solvents instead of chemicals.
If these solutions are not enough, your doctor may recommend other treatments.
3. Vitiligo
Common white spots that usually appear are called vitiligo, which can affect a person both on the face and on any part of the body. This is usually due to dead pigment cells. However, this is the primary reason for the appearance of white spots.
Treatment:
Treatment of vitiligo is cosmetic in nature and is aimed at restoring the color of the affected skin. This may require trial and error when using multiple treatments.
Your doctor may recommend the following points:
- Steroids
- Ultraviolet light therapy
- Immunomodulators
In several cases of vitiligo, surgical treatment may be another option. Your doctor can talk to you about this matter and also choose what is right for you.
4. Sun Spots
These are white spots where your skin loses its tone. The main cause of skin discoloration is related to problems associated with pigmentation. It usually appears on the legs and gradually begins to appear on the arms, and then reaches the upper back. If you are in the sun for a long time, then you may have a tendency to have this skin disease. This type of skin disease is also caused by hereditary problems.
Treatment:
Using sunscreen and avoiding excessive exposure to the sun is a good first step to reducing further skin damage.
5. Lichen Sclerosus
This type of skin disease can affect people of all ages. In women, this condition usually manifests itself more often in the form of red and thin areas under the skin. In men, this infection tends to appear on the foreskin of the penis. This disease can also be seen in other parts of the body. One of the main causes of this skin condition is hormonal imbalance.
Treatment:
Treatment of this condition is aimed at reducing itching and irritation, as well as eliminating further thinning of the skin. They can improve the appearance of the skin also. Your physician may suggest the use of topical corticosteroid creams or lotions.
6. Pityriasis Alba
This is a skin disease that usually affects children aged 1 to 3 years. It usually appears on the face, causing redness, itching, and white spots. Even if this skin disease heals, it leaves a lot of white marks on your skin, which potentially leads to the appearance of white spots.
Treatment:
Pityriasis alba generally gets better without any treatment, but it may take time.
It usually resolves on its own, but recurrences may occur. Treatments from reliable sources used to reduce white spots include moisturizers, topical steroids, or non-steroidal creams.
Conclusion
In most cases, white spots on the skin do not require medical treatment. However, it is important that the white spots are checked by your doctor, which is always a good option.