A reader sent in a question about white spots via Facebook. She has a white spot on her leg and on her hand. The spots are getting larger as she gets older. So I asked Texas-based dermatologist Seymour M. Weaver, III, M.D. (DrSeymourWeaver.com) for his advice:
A white spot on the leg and hand is pretty non-specific. Factors such as the size of the spots, shape and duration can help with assessing the possible diagnoses. If the spots are 1-2 mm in size then a condition such as idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a possibility.
Other possibilities could include segmental vitiligo if both of the spots are one side of the body and in a linear pattern. Rarely conditions such as morphea or sarcoidosis can be associated with white spots on the skin and differentiation requires performing a skin biopsy to make a specific diagnosis.
Once a specific diagnosis is made then treatment options could be explored to see what might be beneficial. In general, other than treatment for vitiligo, most therapeutic measures for white spots have limited success.
For more information check out the following articles:
White Age Spots
Why Do I Have White Spots On My Skin?
If you have any marks or moles that have appeared on your body or that are changing in size, I urge you to talk to your doctor or a dermatologist about them. As Dr. Weaver told me, it's difficult to be more specific without knowing a person's age, dimensions, and other features of the spots.
Photo: Gerrie Summers
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