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white spots on skin

Since I had my son which is 7 years old now, I have had these white spots on my arms and legs. These spots come and go I can rub my arm for a few moments and they disappear, but then they come right back. It seems as though they are spreading cause now they are on my butt when I tan it makes them brighter! I get out of the tanning bed looking like a leopard! I went to the dermatologist but she said there was nothing wrong, but obviously there is. I need help with this cause i can't even wear shorts or I feel uncomfortable the whole time!
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563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it sounds like 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.

I would suggest an examination by a dermatologist 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.Warm regards


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Avatar universal
I have the same thing on my arms and legs.. they are called bier's spots or marshall white syndrome.  below link describes it.

http://dermatology.cdlib.org/114/NYU/NYUtexts/0315052.html

I was also told there is no treatment or cure for it.

Ed
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Avatar universal
It sounds exactly like what I have!  I have white spots that show up on my arms, legs, chest, and I guess my butt too!  I hate them!  They show up the worst when I get out of the shower, or I'm cold, or when I stand for any real length of time (poor circulation in my legs and feet)!  I feel like a leopard too!  You're not alone!  I hate to wear shorts or even short sleeves!  I have even had strangers in the grocery store (while standing in line) ask me if I knew what the white spots on my arms were.  And my husband tries to tell me that they are barely noticable... yeah right!

My dermatologist said that I have "adrenergic urticaria" but good luck finding much info about AU!  She basically said that my body overproduces histamine and is attacking the tiny (capillaries) blood vessels just below the surface of the skin.  The white spots (halos) are a result of the blood being shut off to those capillaries in order to protect the skin from the histamines.  So I guess my body is attacking itself from the inside out.  She told me that there really isn't anything that we can do for it.  She said it might even worsen as I get older.  OH GREAT!  She gave me a prescription for a topical antihistamine but it didn't do anything at all.  I've tried taking benedryl but that didn't help either.  I'm not completely convinced that I have AU.

I think I might have something associated with Raynaud's syndrome.  Who knows!  That's just me trying to diagnose myself!  I'm hoping that this forum might shine some light on this issue and lead me in a new direction.  One that offers treatment or most preferrably a cure!

I wish you the best!
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Avatar universal
It is probably Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis.  Look at pictures on line.  It seems there is much to treat it but I did have a Fraxel Repair laser done to my chest and it helped a lot.  I imagine It would come back if I have any sun exposure.  It is from being in the sun too much.  If the spots are quite large it could be Tinia versicolor which is treatable.



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