pityriasis alba at age 27?

i have white, slightly itchy patches on both cheeks, the doctor told me its pityriasis alba. i am 27 years old female. is it possible at this age? Thank you for your response.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it sounds like irritant contact dermatitis. Irritant dermatitis, the most common type of contact dermatitis, involves inflammation resulting from contact with acids, alkaline materials such as soaps and detergents, cosmetics, or other drugs and chemicals.

Avoid using any lotions and creams over the face for the meantime. Wash your face with a mild cleanser with moisturizing properties like Cetaphil. Pat your face dry. Then apply a good hypoallergenic moisturizer over the area and see if this improves.If the symptoms still persist then you can apply mild steroid like dermacort.

If the irritation persists then pls get it evaluated from a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

I apologise for the answer above as it is to some other question and given by mistake.
Pityriasis alba usually occurs in children or teenagers.At your age,the diagnosis should have been pityriasis versicolor. It is a common skin infection caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur. This skin disease commonly affects adolescents and young adults, especially in warm and humid climates.

Treatment involves topical and oral antifungal medicines. Application of local antifungal cream(terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole) and oral antifungal drugs are the mainstay of treatment.

If the symptoms are severe then it will be best to consult a dermatologist.Biopsy of the skin may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[CoCoChantel]

I'm 26 and I have had pityriasis alba since I was about 12. It has definitely not lessened in all that time. Dishearteningly I read that it resolves by age 30 :(