Skin problems on the face are a common occurrence across all ages. White spots on face can be caused by a range of skin disorders, some curable, while others can just be treated to make it better. Sometimes it can be a sign of a serious condition, but sometimes it can be treated with simple solutions. You can often find white spots on face of child, and this can be worrisome. But these are pretty common if they are caused by something non-serious.
In this article, we’ll look at the different reasons for white spots on the face along with their treatments. Depending on the causes and the source of these spots, either you can use a simple cream, or you may need extensive care. However, some of them have no cure. Let’s look at these factors in detail below.
Table of Contents
Causes and Treatments
Here, we will take a look at all the different causes of white spots on face.
Causes
Milia
Milia is a condition that develops when keratin begins to get trapped under the skin. Keratin is a protein that is basically the outer layer of the skin on your face. And keratin being trapped can cause white-colored cysts to be formed. But sometimes, these cysts can be formed because of poison ivy, sun damage, a burn, or even post a skin resurfacing procedure. Using a topical steroid skin can also cause these cysts to form.
This condition can occur in both adults and children and can also be found in newborn babies. These cysts can be found on the forehead, nose, cheeks, around the eyes, and sometimes even in the mouth.
Pityriasis alba
This type of eczema can result in oval and flaky patches of discolored white skin, and it looks like small white spots on face. This disorder is said to be affecting about 5 percent of children around the world between the ages of three to sixteen. The exact cause for this is unknown, but it is seen in the setting of atopic dermatitis and may be connected to a yeast or sun exposure that can result in hypopigmentation. Pityriasis alba generally goes away in a few months, but the discoloration may remain for up to three years.
Vitiligo
As mentioned before, some types of patches have no cure and cannot be treated as it is a lifelong condition. Vitiligo is one such condition. It is a skin disorder that is caused by the loss of pigmentation. These depigmented patches can be found in any area of the body, including people’s hands, feet, legs, arms, face, and genitals.
These patches begin small but generally slowly increase until a large percentage of the body is covered with these white areas. But this isn’t something that happens in all cases of vitiligo.
Tinea versicolor
This is also called Pityriasis Versicolor and is a skin disease resulting from an overgrowth of yeast. Yeast is a very common kind of fungus on the skin, but in certain cases, it can cause rashes. These spots can be scaly or dry and can also vary in color. Certain people would get brown, red, or pink spots, while others may get white spots. These white spots may actually be unnoticeable unless you tan if you have a lighter skin tone.
This skin disorder can happen to people of all ages, but it generally affects those who live in places with humid climates and even those with compromised immune systems or just oily skin. These fungus white spots on face can be easily dealt with.
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (sun spots)
These are also called sunspots, and as the name suggests, they can form on the skin because of long-term exposure to UV from the sun. The size and the number of sun damage white spots on face may vary, but they are usually flat and round and measure between 2 to 5 millimeters. These can be seen in different body parts like your legs, back, arms, or face. This condition is seen most in those with fairer skin. The risk for these sunspots will increase with age, but women get these spots at an earlier age as compared to men.
Treatments
Let’s check out the possible recommended treatments for these skin conditions. However, it’s always best to go to a doctor for expert advice so you can treat the white spots without causing any further damage.
Milia
Primary milia is when white spots on face result from entrapped keratin. These cysts aren’t generally itchy or painful and can disappear on their own in a few weeks. But if they don’t go away in a few months, doctors suggest acid peel, microdermabrasion, or a topical retinoid cream.
When it comes to ointments, those that have 0.1 percent tretinoin are generally recommended first. Steroid creams are another common prescription. Other times a special tool may be used to extract these bumps. Using cream for white spots on face is very effective.
Pityriasis Alba
When it comes to pityriasis alba, moisturizing the dry spots or using a topical steroid that is over-the-counter like hydrocortisone can help relieve redness or itchiness. Other times, Elidel cream that is a nonsteroidal formula, can be recommended. Over-the-counter low-dose topical corticosteroid creams are another solution, and these creams start with 1 percent hydrocortisone cream.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo isn’t something that happens at a certain age and can develop at any age. But most people with vitiligo don’t show its symptoms until they’re in their 20s. The risk of vitiligo increases with a family history of this disease. The treatment is dependent on how severe the condition is. The doctor may suggest ultraviolet light therapy, topical creams, or even oral medication help your body restore the skin color and try to inhibit the growth of the white patches.
Sometimes skin grafts may be recommended but only for small patches of white skin. In this procedure, the skin would be removed from one part of your body and attached to another part of the body.
For minor symptoms, white patches can be prevented from being obvious by not allowing the skin to tan. Other times, low-dose corticosteroid creams like those with 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, ultraviolet light treatment, and topical medication can help. Elidel cream that is a nonsteroidal formula, bleaching of the skin around the large white patches to blend it, or even tattooing over white patches can be suggested.
Tinea Versicolor
Since this skin disorder results from the overgrowth of yeast, the general solution would be antifungal medications. Your doctor may prescribe creams, soaps, shampoos, or other such products that are anti-fungal to be used until there is an improvement of the white spots on face. Other times, an oral medication that is antifungal like fluconazole may be recommended to not only stop the overgrowth of yeast but also to prevent it.
The patches generally disappear with regular treatment over the course of weeks or months, depending on the severity. But without consistent treatment, fungus white spots on face can recur. But generally, using the cream for white spots on face is recommended first.
Sometimes these spots can also occur during pregnancy, and it is best to consult a doctor to know what treatments are safe to use during pregnancy.
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (sun spots)
Since these spots are caused by UV exposure, when it comes to dealing with sun damage white spots on face, it is recommended that you use sun protection cream regularly. It will prevent these spots from getting worse and also from letting new ones form.
Different treatments can be used to reduce the spots’ appearance and also restore color. You can be recommended topical steroids so that the skin inflammation can be reduced and retinoids so that there is stimulation for hyperpigmentation and cell growth.
Emotional Well-being
While talking about all the physical causes and treatments for these spots, especially for white spots on face of a child, there is another cause to consider. A psychological factor also comes into play for small white spots on face with little children. Often, when a child is feeling neglected, unloved, or abandoned, these spots can form.
So the solution for this is just extra love and care for the child to make them feel loved and cared for. Research shows that this can quickly cause these white spots on face of the child to disappear.
Home Remedies
Many home remedies for white spots on face are also available. But keep in mind that while these home remedies will help you, you need to consult a doctor or a dermatologist about these remedies if there is a chance of an allergy.
These are some home remedies for white spots on face:
- Add figs to your diet.
- Add edible dry fruits, flowers, and leaves in equal quantities as a powder to water and drink it. You need just one teaspoon.
- You can dry pomegranate leaves and add 8 grams of its powder to milk and drink it every morning.
- Drink water and eat food made or stores in copper vessels.
- Ginger juice can help in increasing blood flow to the skin and, in turn, help with the white patches.
- Drink lots of buttermilk.
Conclusion
White spots on face can be caused by a myriad of reasons ranging from exposure to the sun, something genetic, yeast, entrapment of keratin, or even psychological. It is best to consult a doctor and proceed with the treatment after understanding the cause behind the spots. In this way, you can get treated without further increasing the white spots or damaging the skin.
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