White Spots on Skin: Causes, Treatments & Health Implications

White spots on the skin are a type of skin discoloration where the affected skin appears lighter than the surrounding skin. There can be various reasons for lighter skin, ranging from sun exposure to fungal infections to an autoimmune disorder. The different types of white spots on the skin include:

Flat white spots on skin or raised white bumps that protrude above the surface of the skin.
Small white dots on the skin or larger white patches on the skin.
White spots on the face or white spots on the legs, arms, and other parts of the body.

The Importance of Addressing Skin Changes

Most of the time, white or lighter spots on the skin are harmless. They may go away on their own or can be easily treated with creams and ointments. However, sometimes, white spots on the skin can be signs of skin disorders that need to be properly diagnosed and treated. That’s why it’s important to seek a medical evaluation from your primary care provider or dermatologist. They can examine your skin, identify the underlying cause, and treat it accordingly.

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Causes of White Spots On Skin

Fungal Infection: Tinea Versicolor

A common fungal infection called tinea versicolor or pityriasis versicolor can cause white, yellow, pink, red, or brown spots on the skin. These spots are usually located on the chest, shoulders, and upper back and can be mildly itchy. They are not contagious.

Tinea versicolor occurs due to the overgrowth of a yeast that is naturally found in the skin. Sun exposure and hot and humid weather can make the fungal infection worse.

Milia

Milia is a common skin condition that causes small white bumps, also called milk spots, to develop in the skin. The cysts develop due to trapped dead skin cells below the skin’s surface. They can form on the forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose, inside the mouth, chest, arms, legs, and genitals. Milia is common in newborn babies, but can also affect adults. When the white bumps are present on the face, milia can be mistaken for whiteheads (acne), but it is not acne.

Milia en plaque is a rare type of primary milia that typically affects women between 40 and 60 years of age. It consists of raised white patches on the skin that develop when one milium clumps together with others. Other triggers for milia (milk spots) include skin damage (rashes, blisters, burns, sunburn) or long-term use of steroid creams and ointments.

Are milia contagious? No, milia are not contagious and do not need to be treated unless they are a cosmetic concern.

Pityriasis alba

Pityriasis alba is a benign skin condition that mainly affects children and adolescents. Small hypopigmented or depigmented (pale) white patches on skin appear on the cheeks, upper arms, and upper trunk. These are areas of skin where there is less melanin (skin pigment), and they are more prominent in children with a darker skin tone.

Pityriasis alba resolves spontaneously, usually within a year, with gradual restoration of normal skin pigmentation.

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis or White Freckles

Fair-skinned individuals with many years of sun exposure without sun protection can develop white freckles (lighter dots or spots) on the skin of the face, upper back, arms, and legs. This is called idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis or sun spots.

Healing Sunburn

When people with lighter skin have excessive sun exposure, it can result in sunburn and skin peeling, which can cause small white dots on skin to appear, especially on the arms, chest, and back.

Possible Vitamin Deficiencies

Deficiencies of certain essential nutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 may lead to the formation of white spots or dots on skin. There is some evidence that people with skin conditions such as pityriasis alba and vitiligo have low vitamin D levels.

Healing Skin Inflammation

Sometimes, white patches on the skin occur while the skin is healing from flare-ups of inflammatory skin disorders such as eczema (atopic dermatitis) or psoriasis. These can appear as white spots on the legs and arms. Scaly or flaky, white or yellow spots in areas of oily skin, such as the face and scalp, can form in people with seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap in infants). Learn about eczema vs psoriasis.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system destroys melanocytes (pigment-forming cells in the skin). This causes the skin to lose pigmentation and form smooth, light, or white patches that are painless. These macules or patches are commonly found on the face, forearms, hands, and feet.

Vitiligo is genetic in 30% of cases and can also be caused by environmental factors like physical or emotional stress or exposure to ultraviolet radiation or chemical toxins.

Learn more about the dangers of chronic stress.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a rare genetic disorder in which noncancerous tumors develop due to the rapid multiplication of skin cells and cells in other parts of the body. The brain is also commonly affected. Skin changes include areas of hypopigmentation called ash leaf spots and confetti marks that are paler than surrounding skin and can appear like white dots, spots, or patches on the skin.

Concerns and Implications of White Spots

When To Seek Medical Advice

It is best to have white spots on the skin evaluated by a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, if necessary. It is especially important to seek medical care if:

There is a rapid loss of skin pigmentation or color.
The spots appear in one place and then spread to other parts of your body.
The spots don’t go away after a few weeks.
You have pain, itching, bleeding, or burning in the white spots.
You have other symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, or joint pain.
The appearance of the white spots is causing you embarrassment or affecting your mental health.

Potential Health Implications

Most common causes of white spots on the skin are easily treatable and go away in a few weeks to a few months. However, sometimes, white dots on the skin can be a sign of an underlying health condition that should be properly diagnosed and treated. For example, white spots caused by a rare condition such as tuberous sclerosis that can also affect the brain. Some types of white spots are linked to an increased risk of other health conditions, for example, other autoimmune conditions in people with vitiligo.

Cosmetic Concerns

Many types of white spots on the skin do not need to be treated for medical reasons but may need to be treated for cosmetic concerns. If the appearance of white dots or spots is bothersome or causes embarrassment, talk to your dermatologist about treatment options.

You can also use cover-up cosmetics to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of white dots, spots, or patches until they go away.

Medical Treatments and Procedures For White Spots

Treatment for white spots on the skin depends on the cause:

Fungal Infections

For a fungal infection such as tinea versicolor, treatment consists of oral antifungal medications or antifungal creams. The fungal infection usually clears in 1-2 weeks but it can take several weeks or even months for the skin color to return to normal.

Milia

Treatment options to remove milia include:

Over-the-counter adapalene gel.
Prescription tretinoin cream. Learn more about tretinoin uses and side effects.
Surgical removal with a needle.
Cryotherapy (freezing).
Antibiotic (minocycline) for milia en plaque.

Retinol Vs. Tretinoin: What's The Difference?

Pityriasis Alba

Treatment for pityriasis alba consists of reassurance, emollients to soften and moisturize the skin, and low-potency topical steroid creams in some cases.

White Freckles

Possible treatments for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (white freckles) include:

Prescription tretinoin (retinoid) cream.
Topical steroids.
Topical calcineurin inhibitors such as pimecrolimus.
Dermabrasion skin treatments.

Vitiligo

Treatment for vitiligo may be offered if the changes in skin tone cause embarrassment or emotional distress. For example, if there are white patches on the face, neck, and other visible areas of skin. Options include:

Counseling.
Medications:
- Corticosteroids.
- Calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus.
- Topical janus kinase inhibitors such as ruxolitinib (Jakafi).
Repigmentation or depigmentation therapy.
Light therapy or phototherapy.
Surgery.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

Some home remedies that may help with white spots on the skin include:

Coconut oil: The fatty acids and vitamin E in coconut oil can help soothe and hydrate the skin and promote a smoother skin tone.
Aloe vera: The anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera can help calm irritation and promote healing.

Long-Term Management Strategies

Your healthcare provider will discuss long-term treatment in more detail depending on the underlying cause of white spots on your face or body. Follow the long-term treatment plan developed by your dermatologist for best results.

Prevention of White Spots On Skin

Protective Measures Against Sun Exposure

The best way to prevent white spots is to protect your skin from the sun.

Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 rating. Choose a sun protection cream that is water-resistant and broad-spectrum.
Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you're sweating or swimming
Seek shade, especially when the sun is high in the sky (10 am to 4 pm).
Wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.
Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps.

Diet and Nutrition Tips

Eat a healthy diet to promote skin health:

Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A, E, and D.
Eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as oily fish and shellfish.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Improve gut health by eating natural probiotics and prebiotics and high-fiber foods.

Skin Care Routines To Maintain Healthy Skin

Cleanse your skin with mild cleansers suited to your skin type. Avoid harsh soaps.
Moisturize your skin daily.
Use high-quality skincare products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are White Spots On Skin Cancerous?

White spots on the skin are not usually cancerous. However, you should have any white spot on your skin evaluated by a dermatologist if it changes color, shape, or size; has irregular borders; is multi-colored or asymmetrical in shape; is painful, bleeding, burning, or itchy.

What Deficiency Causes White Spots On Skin?

Deficiencies of vitamin B12, vitamin D, and vitamin E can potentially cause white spots on the skin. Your healthcare provider can check vitamin levels and prescribe supplements if needed.

What Do White Sun Spots Look Like?

White sun spots are usually white dots on the face and other sun-exposed areas. They can be round, oval, petal, or raindrop-shaped. Most are small, about 1 to 10 millimeters (mm) in diameter, and usually flat in appearance.

What Causes Small White Spots On Skin?

Small white spots on the skin can be from many common causes such as sun spots or white freckles, a fungal infection, milia, or pityriasis alba. Other possible causes that are less common include conditions such as vitiligo or tuberous sclerosis.

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