White spots
The most common cause of light spots in adults in hot climates is pityriasis versicolor, or pityriasis versicolor. This is a superficial fungal infection: spots with fine peeling appear on the chest, back and shoulders, and after sunbathing they become more noticeable because the affected skin does not darken. Another reason is vitiligo, in which areas completely lose pigment, have clear boundaries and are often located symmetrically on the hands, around the mouth and eyes. In children, pityriasis alba is common - light, scaly patches on the cheeks associated with dry skin. Light traces remain even after inflammation.
- Pityriasis versicolor - peeling, more noticeable after sunbathing
- Vitiligo - complete loss of pigment, clear boundaries
- Lichen alba on children's faces
- Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
- White spots on shins in older people
- Rarely - manifestation of leprosy with loss of sensitivity
Dark and brown spots
Brown spots are most often caused by excess melanin production. Freckles and solar lentigo are associated with ultraviolet radiation and appear in exposed areas. Melasma - symmetrical spots on the forehead, cheeks and upper lip - develops in women during pregnancy, taking hormonal medications and exposure to the sun. After acne, burns or scratching, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation remains. Dark, velvety areas in the folds of the neck and armpits may indicate insulin resistance. Moles are assessed separately: a changed, asymmetrical, unevenly colored spot requires examination.
- Freckles and solar lentigo
- Melasma during pregnancy and taking hormones
- Pigmentation after inflammation and injury
- Dark folds due to insulin resistance
- Moles that require monitoring
- Pigmentation when taking certain medications
Red and vascular spots
The red color is more often associated with vasodilation, inflammation, or blood leaking into the tissue. Pink, scaly patches with a larger maternal plaque are characteristic of pityriasis rosea, which resolves on its own within a few weeks. Persistent redness of the cheeks and nose with spider veins is typical of rosacea. Spider veins and punctate angiomas are usually harmless. It is fundamentally important to distinguish spots that turn pale when pressed with a transparent glass, from petechiae and bruises that do not turn pale: the latter indicate the release of blood and require examination, and with fever, emergency assistance.
- Pityriasis rosea is a self-limiting condition
- Rosacea - persistent redness of the face
- Spider veins and angiomas
- Urticaria - disappearing blisters
- Petechiae and ecchymoses - hemorrhages into the skin
- Pressure test with a transparent glass
What examinations are needed
The main thing is an examination by a dermatologist with dermatoscopy, which allows you to examine the structure of the spot under magnification and distinguish a benign formation from a suspicious one. For flaky spots, scrape for fungi and examine under a Wood's lamp. For vitiligo, thyroid function and glucose levels are checked, since it is often combined with autoimmune and metabolic disorders. For dark velvety folds, weight, glucose and insulin are assessed. If the stain is in doubt, the dermatologist can refer it for removal with histological examination.
- Examination with dermatoscopy
- Scraping for pathogenic fungi
- Examination under Wood's lamp
- TSH and thyroid hormones
- Blood glucose
- General blood test
- Histological examination of suspicious formation
What to do and how to treat it
The tactic depends on the reason. Pityriasis versicolor is treated with external and, with a widespread process, systemic antifungal agents; The skin color does not even out immediately, but over the course of several months. For melasma and post-inflammatory pigmentation, the main thing is strict sun protection; without it, any procedures are ineffective. For vitiligo, external therapy and phototherapy are used, which are prescribed by a dermatologist. You should not lighten stains yourself with aggressive means: burns and increased pigmentation are possible. Any spot that grows or changes should be seen by a doctor.
- Antifungal therapy for pityriasis versicolor
- Daily sun protection
- External remedies and phototherapy for vitiligo
- Treatment of the underlying skin disease
- Correction of weight and metabolism in dark folds
- Refusal from aggressive self-lightening
- Observing changing spots