The appearance of spots on the skin is a frequent condition in the population; many of them reflect that something is not right in your body, and you must go to the doctor to determine their origin. However, some peculiar scaly patches do not represent a danger and are usually very common; they are known as pityriasis alba.
This disorder can occur regardless of sex or age, although it mainly affects children and adolescents. It develops without any other discomfort, is not contagious, and usually disappears on its own, although it can take from months to years. If you suffer from it or think you have it, in this FastlyHealarticle, we want to inform you about pityriasis alba: causes and treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of pityriasis alba
If you start to notice spots on your face, it may be pityriasis alba, and you likely think it is due to a nutritional deficiency, for example, due to vitamins or copper; However, it has not been proven that its origin is related to it, in reality, it is unknown why this disorder is generated, although some factors that could be involved in its appearance have been determined.
Constantly exposing yourself to the sun without protection is considered the leading risk factor for you to develop pityriasis alba since the radiation emitted can irritate the skin to the extent of causing an inflammatory reaction; Likewise, if you already suffer from this disorder, the sun’s rays cause the oxidation of melanin causing your skin to darken, highlighting the spots more. Other environmental conditions such as humidity also favor the presence of pityriasis alba.
Another factor related to the development of pityriasis alba symptoms is if you use abrasive or scented soaps, which can damage or alter your skin, especially if it is already susceptible. In addition, if you accompany it with hot water and a long bath, the probability that you present this disorder increases.
On the other hand, sometimes, an infectious agent is linked as the cause of pityriasis alba. However, this has not been confirmed because there is no evidence. It is recommended that you go to a dermatologist to ensure that it is this condition.
Primary symptoms of pityriasis alba
The pityriasis alba is characterized by appreciating starting round or oval spots up to 2 cm with a pale reddish or pink coloration. Sometimes they are accompanied by flaking, and although they are generally asymptomatic, you may feel itchy. It mainly affects the face, but you can also present them on the extremities, neck, or chest.
They usually spend several weeks with this appearance. Then the spots lose their color, becoming even paler until they become faint white spots and with possible xerosis or dryness of the skin around them, usually without other irritation.
Treatment for pityriasis alba
The spots of tinea alba come to fade by themselves and do not represent a dangerous condition, so no treatment doesn’t need to be applied. However, it can take a long time for this to occur, and since it does not usually look pleasant, you may want to go to a dermatologist for the best treatment for your condition.
In general, your doctor can recommend a moisturizer to combat dryness and irritation of the skin. However, he may also suggest using topical hydrocortisone, especially since it helps you in the initial phase to reduce inflammation, redness, and itching if present.
Even if you use a treatment for pityriasis alba, you should keep in mind that the healing process could still be prolonged, but no longer than it would without any intervention, so you should not despair. To help this disorder disappear, you mustn’t overexpose yourself to the sun and use a high factor sunscreen resistant to water, even on cloudy days.
Tips to prevent pityriasis alba
By not knowing the cause of pityriasis alba, there is no way to prevent it, but you can take some measures to reduce the risk of presenting it, especially if your skin is sensitive and dry. Mainly, it consists of using moisturizers daily, both for the face and for the rest of the body and on the hands, and applying a moisturizer for the lips.
It is also convenient that you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and include in your diet foods with properties that benefit your skin, such as tomatoes, lentils, and fish. In the following article, you can see a good list of foods to improve skin.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Pityriasis alba: causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.