Natural hormone therapy and white spots?

[NY Yankee fan]

I have been on natural hormone therapy for 2-3 years.  I had been on estrogen/progesterone/testosterone capsules but a hepatic function panel showed both my alk. phosphatate result(143) and SGPT (66) were elevated slightly.  My UIBC was low (167).  Something on this test indicated (according to my endocrinologist) that I was getting the wrong route of administration of testerone so he changed it to a cream.  He left the estrogen and progesterone alone so I still take that in capsule form.  I have also been under a tremendous amount of stress this month.  I have noticed an increase in white spots all over my body that I haven't noticed before.  I have also laid in the sun a great deal in my youth up to the present time, although not anywhere as much as in the past..only 10 minutes at a time now...in the summer months only (3-4 months and not every day at that) Could these white spots indicate something that I should be concerned with or could this just be one of the parts of the aging process?
Merry Christmas and thanks!

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. White spots on the skin can be caused by many things. Common ones include Tinea Versicolor which is a non-contagious fungus, viteligo, a drug reaction and more. For this, it is best to see a dermatologist (skin doctor). They might be able to just look at it and make the diagnosis or might have to take a small sample of skin the size of an "O" on this page and look at it under the microscope. Usually, such things are not serious but they deserve to be evaluated to be sure. Age spots are usually darker than the surrounding skin.

You might also want to talk with your internist or primary care doctor about why your liver function tests are abnormal. Hormone therapy doesn

[NY Yankee fan]

Thanks for the response.  Concerning the hepatic function tests and the abnormal results, could having my gallbladder taken out a year ago be the reason for the abnormaal tests?  If so, what can I do about the findings so that this will not hapen in the future and I can have normal results?
Thanks again!