Tinea or Vitiligo?

I am a female from India, 26 years old. About 6 months ago, I noticed two pale white spots about 5mm in diameter on my back. This summer, as I tanned, the two spots did not tan. I also noticed about 4 or 5 new white spots on my arms and legs. Most of the spots are about 1 or 2mm in diameter and circular.

I first went to the Acute Care clinic here in San Jose. The doctor there said I have a fungal infection and prescribed Nizoral. He also suggested I should see my regular doctor (PPO). A week later I visited my PPO who diagnosed me with Vitiligo. He was quite resistant to the idea of my seeing a dermatologist.

I continued with the Nizoral cream anyway. It has been about 3 weeks now, and the spots are bumpy to the touch, and the ones on my back have turned pink and the skin around them has turned red and is itchy. Is this just an allergic reaction the cream or was the first doctor right? Should I continue the cream? I have no new spots since my visit to the doctor, and none of my spots have increased in size.

Can someone provide some direction?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Paddy:

To be frank, your condition sounds typical for neither fungus nor vitiligo, inasmuch as neither is "bumpy."  The location of the spots does favor fungus, however.

Loss of color after fungus tends to be rather long-lasting in dark-skinned people, measured in months even after successful eradication of the fungus.  Unlike vitiligo, however, the color loss is not permanent or progressive.

But of course I am not certain of the diagnosis.  Perhpas your primary physician, the one "resistant" to your seeing a dermatologist, is unaware of the profound implications of a diagnosis of vitiligo in India, and other countries where people of color reside.

Perhaps, then, you should find another, less resistant primary physician.  You need proper diagnosis.  The way to deal with bureaucrats the world over is polite but firm insistence.

Good luck.

Dr. Rockoff

[Linda]

You probably have vitilgo and the doctor's know nothing about it and they don't have a cure, I am trying to get a cream called
Pseudocatalase cream, from Northwestern Phramamcy(312695-3900)
and they will send you information on it or go to the vitilgo web site and read about this condition. You will need to do this for you.

[Paul]

i have little white head looking pimpules all over my face        what is it

[Edgar]

I have a question about the skin condition Becker's Hairy Nevus. Is it contagius?  And do you know about any treatment for it, mine has a brown pigment to it.  If thats any help.

[Megha.V.Koli]

I am 27 yrs old and have vitilgo.
Is the disease completely curable, what is the latest treatment available,
kindly guide,

[Gayle]

Dr. My daughter who is 34, has noticed these white spotted areas on her skin, arms, hands, legs. She has had these now about 5 months. She went to a skin doctor today and he told her it was Vitiligo. She is very upset. He said it was genetic. I wonder, since no one in our family has this skin problem. On the other hand..mine of course, wouldn't you know it? I have multiple sclerois and also have these dark spots on my lip area of my mouth. I have had these dark spots on lips for along time. Had them checked out and etc...even had a colon check for maybe what one skin doctor said could be puitz jiggers..whatever that is. Anyway, all checked out okay in my department, except I do have MS..for about some twenty years now. I'm able to get around with cane and hanging onto walls and etc. I also take one self injection everyday, called copaxone..This skin doctor also told her it  might be her thyroid. Possible? If you have any answers for us, please let us know what you think it is. These white areas have also gotten more all over on her..THANK GOD, not her face..HELP..We thank you for being there for us Doctor..Thank you again, Gayle and daughter, Danette....

[cetin harp]

[M G]

I have a small patch of vitiligo spot near my mouth.  I have it for quite a long time.  Recently, I went to see a dermatogist and
undergone the phototherapy treatment.  As I'm working, I could not afford the time to go to his clinic for treatment. Hence, I asked for the paint and sun my face for 1-2 minutes after the application.  I noticed the spot is now pink. Will this pink spot turn to skin color. If so, how long will it takes to turn to skin colour.

I read about the homoeopathy treatment in India. Is it effective?
Is it worthy of a try?

Thanks

[Francisco]

I have small spots of vitiligo under my arm and on the plms of my hands. I am taking the treatment with PUVA and Meladinine twice a week over 1 year. The spots are not reducing. Do I have the increase the times of PUVA during the week? Can I take the sun instead of PUVA during the treatment ? Is There any news about treatment of vitiligo? How long does the treatment of PUVA take to have effective results ?

[Paula Steele]

I have vitilgo on my hand s and starting around my mouth and i am very self conscience about is there some sort of cover up or something i can use, i have tried several creams is there anything out there you can suggest..

[nadine sykes]

I have over the past 4 years been losing the skin pigmentation on thr right side of my face I am a black dark skineed female it appears the white/pink splotches are slowly spreading it worsens over the summer months.I have seen a md and he once said I had petechia rosea and ordered an ointment which did not work.I can remember when i first noted the lost of skin pigmentation I had a white female patient with dx of petechia rosea could I have contracted her disease. Is this contagious? Can this be cured the MD stated it would eventually resolve but takes a long time should I resign myself to this loss of pigmentation make-up covers it well for now.

[Nevija Bozic]

Seams I have vitiligo on my face.
My dermatologist said that some people went to Cuba for treatment.
Why? There is a plant that consist something with which you can sure vitiligio.
The same thing they use it in a cream which they put on the skin before x-raying (curing the vitiligo). Do you know anything about that plant?

[Maurizio]

I've got vitiligo since I was 13 years hold and I have to say that life never been so easy to me because my normal skin it's quite dark.
Now it became even worste because I just had a nasty moll removed and the result wasn't so nice, aftewords I've been advise to cover myself as much as I can to prevent further damage on my skin.
I would like to have more information about the risk to get a cancer skin for those people effected by vitiligo.

Thank you
Maurizio

[R. Pandya]

lot of websites and doctors say that vitiligo is not curable. But my experience is that a good doctor can cure this horrible skin condition. The first thing to note is the cause of the initial spot. I have an experience of vitiligo after an injury which could not heal because of carelessness of a teenager. He removed the cover of the injury site and the first white spot developed there. Later few more spots developed in various parts of the body. The boy had worms also. It could be treated by homeopathic medicines. The homeopathic doctor has to be good and he should be told the correct details than only he can suggest correct medicines.
I think that vitiligo is caused by variety of reasons and worms also trigger it.

[aregellia]

I notice a white little spot also in my face I would like to know how to cure Vitiligo and how much is the treatment and where to cure this in the United States.


                   Thank you

[sof_aimom]

A related discussion, White patch on breast was started.