White spots on skin are a sign of a rare disease called vitiligo. In this article, learn causes of white patches on skin, how to get rid of white marks on skin with removal tips, treatment and home remedies for dry white patches on skin. We will also discuss symptoms of white fungus spots or small raised sun spots on children’s skin.
- I have white spots on my skin, what are they?
- What causes white pigment spots on skin?
- How can I get rid of light spots on skin?
- What is the best treatment white patches on skin disease?
- Do white dots on my skin mean vitiligo?
- Why do I get sudden fungus white spots on skin?
White skin patches, leucoderma, can prove to be a serious cosmetic problem especially when they tend to spread on your skin. Clinical studies have shown that they could be a symptom of a serious underlying disease. Irregular skin pigmentation occurs as a result of depigmentation. As most people are aware of brown spots on skin and dark spots on the skin, dealing with white age spots can be a challenge.
Below, we will discuss the causes of small white bumps on the skin, how to remove tiny raised white spots, and best treatments for white dry spots on your skin. In addition, we will also include pictures of white spots on the skin to help you with identification of the variant symptoms.
What Causes White Spots on Skin
Causes of white marks on the skin can differ and so will the symptoms. Variations of the way the dots appear on your skin are discussed below in the symptoms section. Various causes can lead to the formation of white marks on the skin. Some of the causes will lead to untreatable discolorations while others such as fungus infections can be easily treated and removed just like those white nail fungus marks can be gotten rid of.
The following are the known causes of white dots and bumps on the skin.
- Generally, white patches are caused by the decrease in the production of melanin. White spots are however seen as severe and can be caused by certain diseases. The condition here is called Nevus Depigmentosus.
- Vitiligo is a major cause of white spots. It is a disease where the melanocytes that produce the brown skin pigmentation become destroyed. Vitiligo is caused by genetic defect problems, nerve damage and autoimmune attacks on the cells.
- Excessive sun exposure may cause white sun spots on the body. This is common on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun such as the lower legs, arms, neck and even face. During summer, most people may experience white spots on skin from sun.
- Fungal infections also cause white dots on the skin. This is sometimes called tinea versicolor. The primary symptom of white fungus spots on the skin is small white dots. These shiny white dots are common on the shoulders and other parts of the body.
- Pityriasis Alba is common in children. It is a disease that manifests itself with white spots on the skin of children aged between 6 and 12 years old. Pink lesions appear first and end up as dry scaly white patches on the skin.
- UV rays during tanning may also cause shiny white marks on the body. People who tan a lot may get these spots after tanning. These may appear as random white dots and spots on skin.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, deficiency of zinc and calcium are also identified as causes of white blotches and white freckles on the body.
It is sometimes believed that cancer causes discoloration on the skin. That is likely to be true with brown spots on the legs or dark spots on the skin. However, it is not proven whether there are white cancer spots on the skin.
Symptoms of White Skin Spots
Different body parts may show symptoms of white patches on the skin. Regardless of the part of the body that is affected, it is likely that you will notice different kinds of dots on your body. For people who are suffering from nail fungus, you are likely to notice white streaks. The following variations are different manifestations of white marks on the body.
| Small white spots on the body | White spots on dark skin |
| Tiny white dots on skin | White round spots on skin |
| Little white marks on skin | White bumps on skin |
| White dry spots on your skin | Whitish or shiny raised spots |
| Blotchy white patches on skin | White scaly areas on skin |
| Raised white spots on the arms, legs and other parts of the body | Random and spread whitish marks |
White itchy spots on skin. When you experience itchiness on the white bumps, it is important that you see a doctor soon enough.
White Spots on Skin Children
In children, white shiny spots are common, especially in newborns. Pityriasis alba is the common condition that normally causes white patches on the face of kids. If your child is suffering from these patches on his or her skin, it is important to see a doctor. The problem might be toxic erythema. Some of these shiny white spots in kids or newborns will disappear with time. Read more on white spots on children’s skin.
How to Get Rid of White Spots on Skin – How to Remove White Patches
There are many ways on how to get rid of white spots on the skin. Remember, topical creams may not be applied to remove the white blotches and freckles especially if they are raised. Your doctor may recommend other forms of treatment, but this will depend on the cause of the problem and where the patches appear. Below are common treatments applied to get rid of white dots on skin. Click on the links to read further on the treatment options provided.
White Spots on Skin Treatment – How to Cure White Spots on Body
Treatments for white spots on skin will depend on the underlying cause. For instance, if vitiligo is the cause, your dermatologist may suggest treatments that clear vitiligo infection. On the other hand, if you are suffering from fungal infection causing white spots, you will be treated with anti-fungal medications.
- White spots on the neck, legs and shoulders may be treated using creams with corticosteroids. These creams help with skin repigmentation.
- Laser treatment of white patches may also be used. This can be applied to remove white marks on the face.
- If you have raised white bumps on the back, liquid nitrogen freezing cure may be used to get rid of white spots.
- Laser treatment may also be applied to remove white marks on the lips.
How to treat white spots on skin may not be possible if the marks are caused by sun. White sun spots can only be prevented using SPF creams or by avoiding the sun and tanning.
Home Remedies for White Spots on Skin
Natural cures and treatments can also be applied to remove white blotches. If you want to avoid the side effects of laser treatments, you can apply simple home remedies to clear the discolorations on your skin. Here are some to try.
| Radish seeds home remedy | Use of figs to remove white patches |
| Turmeric home cure for white spots | Ginger home medication |
| Copper vessel treatment | Apple cider vinegar preparation |
| Honey and holy basil home cure | Neem tree paste cure |
Home remedies for removing white bumps and blemishes on the skin are easy to make and may come with minimal side effects. You may look at the white spots pictures for before and after treatment evidence on how the home remedies work. Remember to see your dermatologist first for a diagnosis to determine the cause of white spots on skin before starting treatment.
See More on White & Fordyce Spots:
- White Spots on Legs and Arms Causes and Best Treatment
- White Spots on Neck – Causes and How to Remove with Remedies
- White Spots on Nails Causes and How to Get Rid of Them
- Get Rid of White Spots on Lips with Fordyce Treatment & Remedies
- White Spots on Back Causes, Treatment and Remedies
- White Spots on Face Causes and How to Get Reid of Them
- Brown Spots on Face – How to Get Rid and Best Creams
