spots??

Ok i honestly dont know if this iz a pigmentation problem but i started to get a small white spot on my arm a couple years back..its like a bump, except you cant feel it..now it spread up to my shoulders and its on both of my arms...i dont know what it is...its not vitiligo, bcuz my skin iznt jus white white, but i dont know what else it could be...should i be concerned? how do i get rid of this??

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It looks like tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor 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. Most cases of fungal infections respond to over-the-counter products, which contain any of several basic ingredients: miconazole, tolnaftate, terbinafine, ketaconazole and clotrimazole. You can consult a pharmacist and get any cream or lotion containing these ingredients. Some of them are Lamisil, Monistat derm, Mycelex, and Nizoral.
If the symptoms persist then please consult a dermatologist.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.