{"id":18838,"date":"2026-07-04T18:08:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T18:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/?p=18838"},"modified":"2026-07-04T18:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T18:08:40","slug":"why-do-white-spots-appear-on-the-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/2026\/07\/04\/why-do-white-spots-appear-on-the-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do white spots appear on the skin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

White patches on the skin (known as hypopigmentation or depigmentation) occur when there is a decrease or loss of melanin, the natural pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. This can happen for a variety of reasons, from benign and temporary problems to chronic or autoimmune conditions. Most are not serious, but some require medical attention to confirm the diagnosis and rule out complications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anatomy<\/span><\/div>\n
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See more<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Skin and nail care<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Medical literature and bibliography<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Anatomy<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/ins><\/div>\n

Main causes of white spots on the skin<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here are the most frequent ones, ordered from highest to lowest prevalence according to age and skin type:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (sun spots or “white spots”)<\/span>
    \nis very common after age 40-50, especially in people with fair skin.<\/span>
    \nThey are small, round, white spots (2-6 mm) on the arms, legs, back, and hands.<\/span>
    \nCauses: cumulative sun exposure over the years + natural aging (melanocytes stop functioning in exposed areas).<\/span>
    \nThey are not itchy or painful; they are harmless but irreversible.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Pityriasis versicolor (or tinea versicolor)<\/span>
    \nis a fungal infection caused by fungi of the genus\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Malassezia<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0(normal on the skin, but which overgrow in heat, sweat, and humidity).<\/span>
    \nIt causes white, pink, or light brown patches on the chest, back, neck, and arms.<\/span>
    \nIt is more visible after sun exposure (the fungus blocks even pigmentation).<\/span>
    \nIt is usually mildly itchy or scaly.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pityriasis alba<\/span>
    \nis a mild form of atopic dermatitis (eczema). It<\/span>
    \npresents as dry, scaly, round or oval white patches, primarily on the face (cheeks), neck, and arms. It<\/span>
    \nis very common in children and adolescents, but can also occur in adults with atopic dermatitis.<\/span>
    \nIt is associated with dry skin, sun exposure, and a history of allergies.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Vitiligo is<\/span>
    \nan autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes. It presents<\/span>
    \nas well-defined, symmetrical white patches that may grow or merge.<\/span>
    \nIt frequently begins on the hands, face, elbows, knees, or genitals.<\/span>
    \nIt can appear at any age, but usually begins before age 30-40 (although there are late-onset cases).<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation occurs<\/span>
    \nafter injuries or inflammation such as acne, burns, eczema, psoriasis, wounds, or dermatitis.<\/span>
    \nThe healthy skin in these areas is lighter due to temporary damage to melanocytes.<\/span>
    \nIt usually improves on its own with time and sun protection.<\/span><\/span>Other less frequent causes:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
      \n
    • Bacterial or fungal infections (e.g., leprosy in endemic areas, but rare).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12, copper or zinc, although infrequent).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Medications (some prolonged topical corticosteroids).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Genetic disorders (partial albinism, piebaldism \u2014 rare).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Lichen sclerosus or morphea (autoimmune diseases that cause hardened white patches).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      When should you worry and consult a dermatologist?<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Most white spots are benign, but see a doctor if you notice:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Spots that grow rapidly or change shape.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Symmetrical and progressive loss of pigment (suspected vitiligo).<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Patches with scaling, intense itching, or redness.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Sudden onset in adults over 50 years of age.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Associated with other symptoms (hair loss, extreme fatigue, thyroid problems\u2014vitiligo is associated with autoimmune diseases).<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Spots in genital areas, mucous membranes or around eyes\/mouth.<\/span><\/span>
        \n

        What to do in the meantime?<\/span><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Always use high SPF sunscreen (50+) on affected areas (the sun worsens the color difference).<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Moisturize your skin well (creams with ceramides or urea).<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Avoid scratching or exposure to irritants.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Do not use harsh home remedies (pure lemon, vinegar) without supervision \u2192 they can cause further irritation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          In summary: white patches are usually benign (guttate hypomelanosis due to sun exposure\/age, pityriasis versicolor due to fungus, pityriasis alba due to dryness\/atopy), but vitiligo and other autoimmune causes require accurate diagnosis. If you are concerned about them or they are changing, a dermatologist can easily identify them (sometimes with Wood’s lamp or biopsy) and advise you on treatments (creams, phototherapy, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\n

          Are the spots small and scattered on arms\/legs, or larger and on the face\/hands? Are they itchy or scaly? Tell me more details so I can give you a more accurate picture.
          \n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          White patches on the skin (known as hypopigmentation or depigmentation) occur when there is a decrease or loss of melanin,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18838"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18840,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18838\/revisions\/18840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tastyrecipes.milaf.ma\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}