Having healthy and smooth skin is everyone's dream. However, some people have white patches on their skin. These white patches on the skin can be caused by various things, from genetics to infectious diseases to watch out for.
Pigmentation is the coloring of a person's skin. A person's skin color varies depending on race, genetics, and how much sun exposure the person has. In addition, illness or injury can change the pigmentation of a person's skin. Some diseases can cause white patches to appear on the skin.
White patches on the skin are called hypopigmentation. Skin cells in hypopigmented areas contain less melanin, the compound that colors our skin.
This Causes White Spots on the Skin
White patches on your skin can make your skin tone uneven, especially if you have darker skin. White patches on the skin can be affected by several reasons, including:
1. Pityriasis versicolor or tinea versicolor (phlegm)
Panu is a common fungal infection of the skin, where there are white patches on the skin of the chest and back area. This disease can also make the skin brown and scaly.
This condition most often affects young people and tends to be more common in men than women, and in people who sweat profusely.
The cause is the growth of fungus Malassezia, which is actually found in normal skin. This condition is not contagious and occurs more often in hot and humid climates than in cool, dry climates.
Mild tinea versicolor can generally be treated with antifungal drugs, such as ointments econazole and ketoconazole. If the tinea versicolor is quite stubborn and does not subside using an ointment, it is recommended that you take oral antifungal medication itraconazole or fluconazole.
2. Vitiligo
Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin. This condition can affect any area of the skin, but is most common on the face, neck, hands, and skin folds.
White patches on the skin caused by vitiligo are usually permanent and can expand in size to affect almost any part of the skin. However, it is not an infectious disease.
Most vitiligo is caused by an autoimmune condition, which is a disorder when the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells. In vitiligo, the cells that are attacked are melanocytes.
In addition to autoimmune conditions, there are several things that are thought to cause vitiligo, including a family history of vitiligo, excessive sun exposure, deep skin wounds, stress, and exposure to industrial chemicals.
There is no drug that can stop the process of vitiligo. However, some medications, such as anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, can help restore skin tone. To stop or slow down the process of vitiligo, light therapy can be an option.
However, treatment options still depend on how widespread vitiligo is and how affected you are.
3. Pityriasis alba
Hypopigmentation or white patches on the skin due to pityriasis alba the cause is not known, but it is associated with allergies or eczema. This condition is more common in people whose skin is often exposed to the sun or has sensitive skin.
The age range of patients is the range of children to adolescents. This condition often appears on the cheeks, chin, neck, and shoulders. Before the white spot, pityriasis alba appears as red, dry, scaly patches
This skin disorder is not contagious, and can also go away on its own. However, people with this condition are advised to keep the skin moist, use hydrocortisone cream if it itches, and avoid sun exposure.
4. Morphea
Morphea is a rare skin condition in the form of white patches on the skin caused by an increase in the amount of collagen in that area. Usually, these skin changes appear on the abdomen, chest, or back, but they can also occur on the face, arms, or legs.
The cause of morphea is also not known with certainty, but this skin disorder has links with genetic and environmental factors.
Morphea does not cause pain, but over time the white patches can harden. In some cases, morphea can occur in the deeper layers of the skin, limiting joint movement as the patches harden.
There is no specific treatment for morphea. However, doctors can provide treatments to reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
5. Leprosy
Leprosy or leprosy is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. The incidence of this disease in Indonesia is quite large and is often found in the age group of 10-14 years and 35-44 years. Leprosy is characterized by white patches on the skin that are numb or feel thick.
White spots like this need to be checked as soon as possible so that treatment can also be faster. The problem is, leprosy can cause various complications if not treated immediately. One of them is disability caused by nerve damage.
To treat leprosy, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics, such as: dapsone and rifampicin, which must be consumed regularly over a long period of time. To prevent nerve damage, doctors may also prescribe corticosteroids or thalidomide.
White patches on the skin does not sound like a serious health problem. However, some of the diseases with these signs can be serious and cause a huge impact on the sufferer's life. In addition, uneven skin tone can make some people feel insecure.
Therefore, do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you experience white patches on the skin. In addition, always keep your skin healthy to avoid various kinds of skin diseases.
Don't forget to use moisturizer and sunscreen every day. Although it may seem trivial, moisturizer has many benefits for your skin, from relieving dry and cracked skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, to as a makeup base. make up You.