mysterious white rash on palm

So I noticed this morning that I have a white rash on the palm of my left hand. I guess I was scratching without realizing. At first I thought it might be scratch marks from having severely dry skin but after rubbing it a little I realized that was not the case. My next immediate reaction was that it was something on the surface of my skin, like white paint, so i went to scrub it off with soap and water. But it didnt come off and i noticed that where there had been a very small mark of it on my right hand had gotten bigger within minutes. Its been over an hour now and nothing else has happened with it. No changes in texture, size, etc.. it doesnt really itch. Its just there. What could this be?

I have a history of yeast infections, HPV, slight dandruff and I am a vegetarian.

Any help?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

It is difficult to make a diagnois without examination,but some possibilities are there.First,it can be lichenification of the skin due to atopic dermatitis.

Second,it can be pityrisis alba or pityrisis versicolor. This is characterized by hypopigmented, round to oval, scaling patches on the face, upper arms, neck, or shoulders. Pityriasis versicolor is caused by an overgrowth of a yeast fungus and are found mainly on sun exposed areas.

Thirdly,it can be 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.

Treatment is different for all three.So I feel that an evaluation by a dermatologist will help in confirming a diagnosis. Diagnosis can be confirmed by external examination, blood tests to check skin cell count  for melanocytes and biopsy of the skin patches.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.Kind regards

[DNA1981]

thank you so much for the help. However, I applied some cocoa butter lotion to my palms yesterday and it faded away. So, I'm guessing it was dry skin, although I have never seen dry skin look like that before..
Is it possible that some of the disorders you mentioned above could come and go and/or be effected by moisterizing?

Thanks again,
D

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Since the rash has responded well to moisturizers,so it can be dry skin (xerosis) or eczema.Eczema also produces dry flaky skin.

Dry skin usually results from environmental factors that you can wholly or partially control. These include hot or cold weather with low humidity levels, long-term use of air conditioning or central heating, and washing or bathing too much.These factors are modifiable by the efforts of individual.Also apply emollients and plenty of good moisturizing lotion as both respond well to it.If the symptoms persist,then you can add a mild corticosteroid cream like dermacort to your regimen.

Hope it helps.Take care and regards.