Helping People with Vitiligo

Why Do I Have White Spots On My Skin?

Ogo vitiligo on head and hand

Not all white spots on your skin are vitiligo. There are a variety of reasons for white spots on skin.  They could be any of these:

  • tinea versicolor (fungus)
  • guttate hypomelanosis (sunspots)
  • pityriasis alba (vestige from eczema)
  • vitiligo

White spots on the skin are the absence of melanin – the pigment that colors the skin. Melanin colors the hair and eyes too. Sometimes these white skin spots cover a large area or can be small specks.  The spots that are depigmented can be any of the above skin conditions.

Melanin not only colors hair, skin, and eyes, it protects your skin from harmful sun rays.  Since the melanin is absent, these white skin patches will be more sensitive to the sun and prone to sunburn. If you will be exposed to the sun, consider using sunscreen to protect these sun-sensitive areas of skin. Whether you are standing outside waiting for the bus or at a backyard barbecue, these are all times outdoors and sunscreen should be used.  If you are trying to repigment, then some sunlight or artificial sunlight in the form of phototherapy is needed. It stimulates the tanning response.  That’s the proliferation of melanin – pigment!

A dermatologist can diagnose your specific skin condition with the aid of a Wood’s lamp. A dermatologist will examine your skin under a Wood’s lamp. With vitiligo, a Wood’s light makes the white spots fluoresce bright white, making them clearly visible in contrast to the normal skin color, even if the normal skin is very pale.  Occasionally a biopsy is needed.

Some people choose to cover up their white skin spots with camouflage cosmetics. Some people are at ease with their unevenly colored skin. While others flaunt their white spots.  Whether you choose to conceal the white patches on your skin, reveal them, show them off is up to you.

2 Responses

  1. I have been taking the Recouleur vitamins for about 3 months. I was told by a dermatologist a few years ago that my vitiligo would get worse before it gets better. She was right. Even as I did the light treatments twice a week, I was not seeing any improvement at the time. So I stopped. Now, after taking these vitamins, my vitiligo has gotten even worse. But I’m going to take all the vitamins just to see “what the end will bring”. I like the camouflage makeup spray air stocking. I have used it on one area of my body that is hard to camouflage now. It’s kinda easy since the weather is getting cooler and I’m wearing more clothing. And so far, no skin irritations.

    1. Hello Marie,

      While it’s true that sometimes vitiligo can get worse before it gets better, there are no ingredients in Recouleur® that can make vitiligo worse. We encourage you to review our FAQs at https://recouleur.com/faq/ We’re so pleased you like our Vitiligo Camouflage Makeup spray. It’s so easy to use too cause it’s one step.

Leave a Reply to Admin Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.