Birth Mark / Skin prob

I am 28 years old this year, and I have this white patch on my hand since birth. I would like to find out how do I distinguish if this is a birth mark or a skin problem?
This white patch doesn't spread outwards nor caused any itchiness.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms the possibility of vitiligo needs to be ruled out. It is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result, white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body. Diagnosis can be confirmed by external examination, blood tests to check skin cell count  for melanocytes and biopsy of the skin patches.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.