If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you might notice tan all over your skin. But apart from tan, if you see a few tiny white spots that vary in size, you must look closer. These small white spots are usually known as pesky marks or white sunspots. These spots are not dangerous or harmful. Although not every white spot has annoying marks, they could be caused by various reasons related to health and vitamin deficiencies. If you are still worried and want to know more about these white skin spots, we have you covered.
What Are White Sunspots?
The sun is an avid source of vitamin D, which is necessary for our bones. But if your skin is overexposed to the sun, you may develop many unsightly marks, including white spots. Typically, these white spots are a sign of damage caused by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. When the melanocyte cells in a specific part of the skin stop producing the melanin pigment due to overexposure to UV rays, that area becomes depigmented and white. Hence, these spots are often called ‘white sunspots’; the condition is medically termed ‘Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis’ (1). White sunspots are typically found as flat patches (1 to 3 mm. in size) on the shins, arms, upper back, and face.
These patches are easy to identify as they are usually seen on the skin, upper back, arms, or faces and are around 1 to 3mm in size. However, they are prominently seen among fair-skinned women. They are also likely to occur in women with darker skin tones. They are more likely to appear after the age of 40 years.
Read Also – 13 Home Remedies To Reduce Black Spots On Face (And Why They Work)
Causes
As mentioned above, not all white spots are pesky sunspots. While the common notion might seem like it, various other reasons and factors can cause you to develop white spots on your skin. While some common factors could be an individual’s health conditions or vitamin deficiencies, here are some other reasons that may cause white spots (2):
Tinea Versicolor (TV) Or Pityriasis Versicolor
Tinea Versicolor (TV) is usually caused by the uncontrollable fungal growth that develops under the skin’s surface (3). This fungal growth thus leads to dry, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin, which are comparatively either lighter or darker than your skin tone. The growth of these white spots or patches is relatively slow and often found in a cluster. Most people notice these white spots only when they have a suntan or dwell in any hot, humid, or warm environment.
Pityriasis Alba (PA)
Pityriasis Alba (PA) is a common non-cancerous skin condition that causes redness, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin (4). These red and inflamed patches eventually heal and leave behind pale white spots. Pityriasis Alba is mainly found in children and teenagers between 3 and 16 years old and is especially noticed on the face, neck, shoulders, and arms. PA will likely be considered a mild version of atopic dermatitis or eczema. Another version of PA is Pigmenting PA, which causes bluish-white scaly patches with outlined faded skin, mostly found on children’s faces.
Vitiligo
Unlike sun-borne white spots, Vitiligo spots are much different. People suffering from vitiligo often notice white skin patches in places where the skin cells are destroyed, thus making the skin discolored and depigmented. Although unsure of the exact reason that causes vitiligo, most of the researchers believe that it is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly harms and diminishes the healthy cells (5). These vitiligo white patches further tend to develop on the skin exposed to the sun and may eventually spread slowly or quickly.
Milia
Milia are usually developed on the skin, which is white, firm, raised, and fluid-filled in sacs roughly 1 to 4 mm wide and completely painless (6). Mainly, Milia occurs when the keratin in the skin starts to harden the outer layer while trapping itself under the skin to form fluid-filled sacs. However, the secondary version of Milia can occur due to the traumatic result of events such as dermabrasion, blistering, tissue damage, or any other kind of skin inflammation, all of which may be caused by side effects from some medication.
If white spots on your skin are giving you troubles, then get them checked by a dermatologist.
How Dangerous Are White Sunspots?
White sunspots might seem unpleasant or even embarrassing, but when it boils down to the primary concern of – is it dangerous? Then, the answer would be no. These white spots are usually benign and are not hazardous or harmful. They can be easily treated with readily available ingredients in our house.
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Risk Factors
Although white sunspots are considered harmless and might not cause an impact on your health or well-being. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor if you notice any of the following changes:
- Spots get darker than before
- Spots change in size, shape, texture, or color
- Spots turn itchy or become painful
Home Remedies To Treat White Sunspots
Several home remedies can effectively reduce white sunspots and promote the production of pigments and melanin in depigmented areas of affected skin. The following home remedies are all viable options for naturally treating and soothing white sunspots.
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1. Apple Cider Vinegar
The magical and wondrous apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective medicines for white sunspots. It is believed that regular use of apple cider vinegar can highly reduce the paleness of the skin caused by UV rays (7). The acetic acid in this vinegar helps promptly lighten the skin pigmentation and improves the overall health of your skin by giving an even skin tone.
Method: Dab a little apple cider vinegar in a cotton ball and apply directly to the affected part of your skin. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and wash it off with plain water. Suppose you have sensitive skin. Dilute vinegar with water before applying it. For best results, use this at least twice a day.
Add a little bit of onion juice to apple cider vinegar solution before applying it to the skin. This will give faster and better results.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is yet another wondrous ingredient that can help treat white sunspots. As per various studies, the active compounds named aloesin and aloin are found in Aloe Vera, which aids in lightening spots and every type of hyperpigmentation. Also, when used on sunspots, Aloe Vera catalyzes the new cell generation production and helps restore the skin’s natural color. This is precisely why Aloe Vera is a prominent ingredient in most beauty products and medication.
Method: Take a small piece of freshly cut Aloe Vera leaf and cut it open. Gently rub the gel side of the leaf on the affected area or the white sunspots. Let it sit for half an hour, then rinse with water. Repeat this process 2 or 3 times a day for best results.
3. Castor Oil & Cod Liver Oil
Castor Oil is highly popular for its unique properties in healing and maintaining the skin’s health. When the fantastic Castor oil is blended with the goodness of COD liver oil, it can effectively remove the white sunspots from your skin. Both can stimulate and boost melanin production, restoring the skin and retaining the affected area with its natural pigmentation.
Method: Mix equal parts of Castor oil and COD liver oil and thoroughly massage the affected area. You can also dab this mixture in a cotton ball and apply it to the white sunspots directly. Leave it on for 25 to 30 minutes and wash it off with plain water. For best results, use this twice a day.
Also Read – 13 Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Age Spots
4. Vitamin E Treatment
Vitamin E has incredible skin rejuvenating properties and is exceptionally great for treating skin infections and fungal growth, including white sunspots (8). It keeps the infected skin area nourished and hydrated, preventing it from drying, itching, and irritating, thus preventing the development of white sunspots.
Method: Dab a cotton ball in Vitamin E oil and apply it directly to the affected area or the white sunspots. Let your skin absorb the oil completely. Apply regularly throughout the day (at least 3-4 times) for best results. Or you can apply it for 30 minutes and wash it off.
Kitchen Ingredients To Treat White Sunspots
Apart from the readily available products mentioned above, numerous kitchen ingredients can be used to treat white sunspots or skin discoloration.
1. Lemon And Tomato
Acidic by nature, both Lemon and Tomato work wonders as natural bleaching agents (9) to treat skin tone unevenness, lightening scars, or pigmentation. With white sunspots, this combination of lemon and tomato aids in healing your skin naturally while boosting and regulating the production of melanin, thus ensuring that your skin tone evens out efficiently.
Method: Mix equal parts of lemon and tomato juice and apply it to the white spots and the infected area with the help of a cotton ball. Let it sit for an hour before washing it with water. You can also directly rub thin slices of each individually.
Avoid sun exposure while using tomato or lemon extracts for treating white sunspots. They make the skin sensitive and you may experience sunburns if you go outside during that time.
2. Garlic
Like Lemon and Tomato, Garlic also contains skin-healing and replenishing qualities. It restores the skin’s natural color and promotes quick healing of infected skin (10). The best way to use garlic to treat white sunspots is to use its juice directly on the infected skin.
Method: Apply the freshly extracted garlic juice directly to the infected area with the help of a cotton ball. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and wash it off with lukewarm water. Follow this twice a day for the best results.
Also Read – 19 Best De-Pigmentation Creams Available In India For A Flawless, Even-Toned Skin
3. Honey
Honey has solid and effective antibacterial properties that can help treat various skin allergies and infections, including white sunspots (11). Honey helps fade scars, exfoliating and moisturizing the skin thoroughly.
Method: Apply honey on the infected skin or the white sunspots and let it sit for at least 20 minutes or till it dries off. Wash it off with lukewarm water. You can also mix honey with turmeric, sandalwood powder, or lemon to make a pack and apply it to the infected area.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric has an exceptional skin rejuvenating ability and can effectively help treat white sunspots. It contains antiseptic properties that promote quick healing and skin-restoring (12).
Method: Make a thick paste of turmeric powder with either honey or mustard oil and apply this paste to the white sunspots and infected areas. Wash it off with lukewarm water once it dries off. For best results, follow this once every day until the patches disappear.
Cosmetic Treatments For White Sunspots
Usually, white sunspots fade away naturally within a few weeks and do not necessarily need any cosmetic therapy to get rid of them. Apart from strictly following the preventive measures, you can try effective home remedies. But if you still feel low on self-esteem, you can go ahead with some professional treatments like Laser resurfacing, Cryotherapy, Chemical Peels, or Microdermabrasion.
Summary
Some people notice white sunspots on their bodies whenever they spend too much time under the sun. Although these white sunspots are not harmful, it is essential to know and distinguish them as to what is likely to cause them. These white sunspots or pesky marks are medically known as ‘Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis’ (IGH) and is considered to be a skin damage condition. It is most commonly and likely to happen in fair-skinned women over the age of 40. It develops when the melanocyte cells in a certain part of your skin reduce or almost stop producing melanin due to the overexposure to the sun thereby leading to de-pigmented and white sunspots on the skin. These sunspots take around 10 to 21 days to completely heal by themselves and do not need any precise medical treatment. Although there are various home remedies that you can opt for to lighten or even tone these spots and fasten the healing process. With easily available kitchen and household ingredients like Garlic, Aloe Vera, Apple cider vinegar, Vitamin E capsules, Honey, Turmeric, Lemon and Tomato juice, and much more. Although there are various other skin conditions like Milia, Vitiligo, Tinea Versicolor, or Pityriasis Alba that are very similar looking to white sunspots, it is always recommended to consult a dermatologist if the patches get itchy or painful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Are White Sunspots Permanent?
White sunspots usually fade away on their own with time. If you try natural remedies, it will go away even faster. However, sometimes they run in families, which seems to be permanent.
Are White Sunspots Dangerous or Harmful?
White Sunspots are not dangerous or cancer-causing; they are entirely benign.
Why Do I Get White Sunspots When I Get Tan?
If sunspots occur after tanning, this might indicate a pre-existing or underlying vitiligo condition. It occurs when the melanocyte cell reduces or stops melanin production.
Can vitamin deficiency cause white spots on the skin?
Yes, indeed. The deficiency of Vitamin E, Vitamin D, and calcium can lead to skin discoloration.
Are White Spots and Vitiligo Similar?
No, white spots are mostly temporary and do not spread, while vitiligo is an autoimmune deficiency that does spread over time.
How Long Does It Take For White Sunspots To Heal Naturally?
The white sunspots generally take 10 to 21 days to heal and disappear naturally.
References:
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- “Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “What are these white spots on my skin?” – medicalnewstoday.com
- “Tinea versicolor”– mayoclinic.org
- “Pityriasis Alba”– healthline.com
- “Vitiligo”– mayoclinic.org
- “How can I get rid of Milia?” – medicalnewstoday.com
- “How to Remove Sunspots on Your Face” – healthline.com
- “What to know about sunspots on the face”-medicalnewstoday.com
- “How to Remove Blemishes, Dark Patches and Spots From Your Face Naturally”-academia.edu
- “Sun Spots”– health.howstuffworks.com
- “Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Burning Question: Does Turmeric Get Rid of Dark Spots?”– Burning Question: Does Turmeric Get Rid of Dark Spots?
