White patch on right arm

[summer2020]

Hi, i've had this patch for about 2/3 weeks now and i don't know what it is. The first time that i noticed it, it was like a small patch of dry skin then i applied to it moisturizer. However, 2 days later it developed in this white patch which is shown in the pictures which i took of it. Any suggestion pls? thank you very much.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
By fungal infection, the doctor would have meant pityriasis versicolor. It is caused by a fungus that lives in the skin of almost all adults. Factors that can cause the fungus to become more visible include high humidity and immune or hormone abnormalities.Treatment involves topical and oral antifungal medicines.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[summer2020]

Hi, i went to my dermatologist and he said that it is uncertain to guess what it is at this stage. However, at the moment he thinks that is fungus. He prescribed me lamisil cream and then after two weeks i apply to it skin repair cream. He couldn't say that it is vitiligo because at the moment i have the suntan and he told me that we will see it again after december because the body looses its sun tan. he also made that ultra violet mechanism which i don't know what it is. He also couldn't be certain that it is vitiligo because the patch has lines in it and he told me that usually vitiligo is a one clear patch. apart that i'm sooo afraid of vitiligo :( :(

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For this white patch, I would like to rule out the possibility of vitiligo. 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.

So please get the diagnosis confirmed from your dermatologist after biopsy.

Hope it helps. Take care and regards.