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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

What causes white spots on the skin Drª. Aleksana Viana


and how to treat them
DERMATOLOGIST
Post graduate in Clinical
Dermatology, Cosmiatric and
 Drª. Aleksana Viana Dermatologist  January 2020 Surgery by CMMG in 2012 and
member no. 16907 of CRM-PE,
Brazil.

White spots on the skin can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from simple mycosis
and white freckles to skin problems such as dermatitis, hypomelanosis or vitiligo. POPULARES DE SKIN DISEASES
When a spot appears on your skin you should take note of its size, where it is, when it
appeared and if you have other symptoms, such as itching, dry skin or peeling. Then, make Fordyce spots: what
an appointment with a dermatologist so that the cause may be identified and to start the they are and how to
most appropriate treatment. get rid of them
Some possible causes of white spots or patches on the skin and their treatment are:
Mucocele: what is it,
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1. Skin mycosis treatment options

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Beach mycosis on the back

One of the most common causes of small white spots on skin, which are very itchy and can
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spread through large areas of the body, are “beach” mycosis, also known as
pityriasis versicolor or tinea versicolor.

Although it is known as “beach” mycosis, the person probably already had the mycosis, but
only realized it after going to the beach, because the affected area wasn't tanned. The
fungus that causes this mycosis naturally inhabits the skin, but due to some alteration, it
becomes unpleasant, multiplying a lot, and forming typical spots that affect the neck, trunk
or back.

What to do: apply an antifungal ointment indicated by a dermatologist, which may be

Isoconazole, Ketoconazole or Miconazole. Shampoo, soaps and gels may also be indicated
to supplement the treatment. To prevent other people in the house from being affected,
each person should use their own bath towel and not share their clothes.

2. Blemishes caused by sun exposure

White spots caused by sun exposure

Sometimes people with light or olive skins get tanned when they go to the beach or pool
and, after a few days, the skin peels, and small white patches appear, especially on the
arms, chest and back.

What to do: It is important to moisturize your skin daily, and to always put sunscreen before
going in the sun because the skin is thinner and more sensitive and has a higher risk of
being sunburnt. Ideally, you should moisturize your skin very well about 10 days before
going to the beach and eat foods high in vitamin A such as carrots, tomatoes, boiled eggs,
papaya and mangos, because the more hydrated the skin is, the lower the risk of flaking
and developing blemishes.

3. Atopic dermatitis/ atopic eczema

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that appears mostly in babies, but it can
appear at any age. Dermatitis generally causes red patches, plaques or lumps, but when
they disappear, they can make the area whiter.

What to do: The usual treatment is steroid medication prescribed by a dermatologist, such
as Fenirax, twice a day. The skin should also be kept hydrated, and an antihistamine may
also be needed to relieve itching.

4. White freckles

White freckles on the leg

Light olive-skinned people can develop several small white freckles that may appear on the
hands, arms or legs, especially over the age of 40. This usually happens in people who
have fair skin or who have been exposed to the sun for many years without sunscreen.

What to do: It is recommended you protect your skin from the sun by always using
sunscreen when you go to the beach or pool, or whenever you spend more than 15 minutes
out in the sun. Wearing a hat and gloves can also be helpful in preventing the sun's rays
from aggravating skin lesions.

5. Vitiligo

Vitiligo on the face, chest and arms

This is a disease which causes the appearance of large white patches on the skin and that
can also affect the inside of the mouth. Its cause isn’t fully known but is believed to occur
due to a genetic change or an alteration in your immune system, when the body starts to
fight against melanocytes.

What to do: The doctor can indicate treatments such as phototherapy or applying creams
and ointments with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. One of the drugs that may
be indicated is Melagenina plus, which stimulates the production of melanocytes and
melanin and evens out the tone of your skin.

6. Hypomelanosis

Hypomelanosis

This isn’t caused by any fungus, rather it’s a characteristic of the person and very common
in Brazil. In these cases, there are some parts of the body that are lighter than the person's
general skin tone, and although sun exposure improves contrast, the affected parts are
always lighter than the rest of the body. This change in the skin is more common in people
who have some type of allergy.

What to do: Although you don’t need any specific treatment, sun exposure early in the
morning or late afternoon may be helpful in trying to even out your skin tone.

7. Tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis in children

Also known as Bourneville disease or Epiloia, it’s characterized by the appearance of white
scattered patches that can affect any part of the body, although the trunk is the most
common. They are often first identified in infants or children up to the age of 6, and there
may only be 1 or more than 100 patches on the body.

What to do: You should see a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment to
avoid complications, such as seizures or even kidney problems.

Can white spots be cancer?

Non-melanoma skin cancer can cause a spot with uneven edges to appear on whitish skin
and this spot has different textures and colors. In that case, you should go to a
dermatologist to be checked out and confirm if it is skin cancer and how to treat it.

Can white spots be caused by worms?

White spots on skin don’t always mean the presence of worms, however, associating this
symptom with worms is normal, because when a person has worms, it is common for their
body not to fully absorb the vitamins and food nutrients, and this deficiency in vitamins can
cause white patches on the skin. The main vitamins that cause white patches on the skin
are calcium, vitamin D and E, and these can be found in milk, sardines, butter and peanuts,
for example.

If the cause of white spots on the skin is actually worms, these should be identified with
a parasitological stool examination and treatment can be done with the use of worm
medication.

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