*****..............White patches on skin.............****

[alreadybeautiful]

I was reading a few posts, and i see alot of people have what i have had for a long time. It was rare me seeing anybody with this condition, white spots/patches on skin. Mine do not itch or burn me, they feel like my skin texture and i guess its just a pigment color loss. I went to a doctor a long time ago and when he saw them on my skin he perscribed me to a cream and said i had to use it for 6 months or longer til they went away. But unfortunetly back then i didn't really care for it. I have them on my right hand, my right arm, on the sides between my hips and butt, both sides, and a little on my back, not much there. i recently noticed a new one developed on my lower back just above my butt. It never really bothered me that much because i'm used to it but now i see i'm developing small ones coming and its irritating now. I have no idea what this could be and which one do you think i should use to is more effective working, selsun blue or athletes foot? I will try buying athletes foot and see if that will do any curing at all! Meantime, can anybody respond for any sort of relieving advice and tips. Thank you very much...

[DrAttili]

Completely agree with Dr.Kaur.

Regards

Dr.Sasi Attili
Consultant Dermatologist

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the pictures it is vitiligo and not pityriasis versicolor. So please do not put any selsun. Treatment options include steroids, psoralen photochemotherapy(PUVA),depigmentation and surgical therapy like skin grafting, micropigmentation or tattooing and autologous melanocyte transplants. However the choice of therapy depends on the number of white patches; their location, sizes, and how widespread they are and the option that is convenient to you. I would suggest you to discuss these options with a dermatologist.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[alreadybeautiful]

Sorry about that, I have added some pictures in my album on how my skin pigment loss looks like, these are the most major spots that are kind of big, on my right hand and both of the sides of my thighs, inbetween my hip and butt... i just started using Selsun today, and i want to see if it will actually work. If you cant locate those pictures in my album, let me know how else i can show them. Thanks! :)

[alreadybeautiful]

How is this caused? I wonder how it started. And i am trying Selsun, some people on here said that worked for them so im trying to put it twice a day. Would that harm or worsen my skin in any way? i felt a slight burning and slight itching when i had the selsun on my skin.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Considering your age, it can be due to pityriasis versicolor if it is involving the upper trunk but the possibility of vitiligo also 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.

[DrAttili]

Could be a number of things including vitiligo. Should be able to be more precise if you can upload some pictures.

Regards

Dr.Sasi Attili
Consultant Dermatologist