How To Treat White Spots On Body?

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Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Do you have white spots on your shoulders and back and they are unsightly? So what are the cause of these white spots? And is there any way to get rid of these spots and prevent them from developing in future?

The medical term for white spots is Tinea Versicolor or Pityriasis Versicolor, common referred to as white spots. It is a superficial fungal infection of the skin. This is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Pityriasis ovale, a type of yeast found commonly on human skin. Hence, it is not contagious.

Common symptoms include the growth of small, scaly patches of discolored skin that are either a lighter colour (white or pink) or reddish brown. This results in small areas that are lighter than surrounding skin and do not darken under the sun. The infection, which is most common in warm, humid temperatures, usually affects the back, chest or upper arms and causes mild itching.

White spots can be treated with oral or topical medications. Topical anti-fungals include tolnaftate, terbinafine or typical azoles like clotrimazole, micronazole and ketoconazole. After cleaning the affected area, a think layer can be applied twice daily, usually for 14 days. Continuing to apply medication for another week after infection appears to have cleared may reduce the chance of recurrence. Oral prescription medications like ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole are also effective for tinea versicolor.

Discolouration of skin may persist, even after successful treatment. This persistent discolouration often leads people to think that the fungus is still present long after it has been eradicated. Though it may require several months for the skin to recover, it does not lead to permanaent discoloration.

Tags: fungus, white spots