White patch on skin A cause for concern - Mayo Clinic
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Products and services Several months ago my son developed a small white patch on the skin of his arm It appears to be getting larger Is a white patch on skin anything to be concerned about
Answer From Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Generally, a discolored patch on skin isn't cause for concern. Skin discoloration can be triggered by a number of causes, including: Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Sometimes a small area of skin becomes irritated, which results in a patch of skin that's lighter in pigment than is the skin around it (pityriasis alba). This is common in children who have eczema. Your son's doctor may recommend applying moisturizer to the affected skin, avoiding drying soaps and protecting the skin from the sun. Your doctor might also prescribe a mild medicated cream, such as hydrocortisone. Superficial yeast infection. Another possible cause of a discolored patch on skin is a superficial yeast infection (tinea versicolor), which means that it affects just the top layer of skin. This condition may cause the skin to look either lighter or darker than usual. Treatment may include antifungal creams or shampoos. Other skin diseases, including psoriasis and vitiligo, also may cause patchy discoloration of the skin. Most often other lesions typical for these conditions are present on more than one spot of the body. On brown and black skin, psoriasis can leave discolored patches after it heals (postinflammatory hypopigmentation). The skin usually regains its usual color within a few months. Treatment of vitiligo can be challenging. It's important to get a correct diagnosis so that prescription treatments can be considered. Consult a dermatologist for an evaluation if the discolored patch on your son's arm continues to enlarge or if additional patches appear in other places. With Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
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Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry ShareTweet Dec. 03, 2021 Show references Kelly AP, et al., eds. Disorders of hypopigmentation. In: Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color. 2nd ed. McGraw Hill; 2016. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2021. Dinulos JGH. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2021. Kang S, et al., eds. Yeast infections. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw Hill; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2021. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 14, 2021. Kang S, et al., eds. Psoriasis. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw Hill; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2021. High WA, et al., eds. Special consideration in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 8, 2021. See more Expert Answers Products and Services
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