White Patches on Skin

[path1319]

Hello everyone
I am trying to find some sort of help for my mom. In the last 2 years she has developed some white patches on her legs and her hands. They first started off as small dots, but then they got bigger. The spots have somewhat gone away on her legs, although she still has some, but the ones on her hands have gotten worse.

She has seen about 10 dermatologists but no one really knows what it is. Some tell her its fungus, some say it is vitiligo. She has even done a biopsy but still no clear answer as to what it is and how to treat it.

This has been very frustrating especially not knowing what it is.

Please help. I am attaching a photo of the areas.

Thanks

[vaggarwal]

I have white pigmentation problem since almost 20 years now and now whenever I get hurt, it is almost 80% sure to turn into white color on the skin.
The spots are spread on the body although in small amounts, but now these have started coming on hands and face and neck :(

Please suggest and help

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Two possibilities are there for such depigementation. Firstly,it can be due to 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.

Second possibility is of vitiligo. It is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result, white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body. Diagnosis can be confirmed by external examination, blood tests to check skin cell count  for melanocytes and biopsy of the skin patches.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.