White spots on the legs: what are they and why do they appear?
The white spots that can appear on the legs have very different causes but often they are trivial fungal infections or in any case non-serious pathologies. In addition to white spots, our skin can also have pink or red spots, with and without itching, or brown or brown spots. These dark spots are often caused by too much sun exposure - watch this video and find out how to prevent them!
White spots on the legs: Tinea versicolor
There are white spots on the skin when the functioning of the melanocytes is not perfect and the necessary amount of melanin is not produced in some areas, which appear hypopigmented. The appearance of these white spots can depend on various causes; therefore, it is always good to consult a dermatologist. There are usually no side symptoms, such as scales, fever, itching, blisters, which accompany the appearance of these white spots on the skin in various areas of the body. Obtaining a timely diagnosis can, in fact, favor a rapid resolution of skin disorders and these annoying imperfections. However, usually white spots on the skin are not a symptom of serious diseases for the health of the whole organism, nor are they always contagious, but they often negatively affect the psychological well-being of those affected and experience them as a threat to the beauty of their body. . In many cases they appear due to infection with sea fungi, such as Tinea versicolor, which has white spots on many areas of the body, legs, face, back, arms. This disease is mainly caused by some fungi of the Melassezia family, which grow by heat and high humidity, to create white and round spots. Pityriasis Versicolor is caused by fungi that inhabit the skin, without creating problems. But if there is an exaggerated proliferation of these fungal microorganisms, afterwards there is also the appearance hypopigmented spots, often favored by poor quality cosmetics that clog the pores too much or skin that is too oily, from excess sweat and low defenses mmunitary.
White spots on the legs: Pityriasis alba
Another type of fungal infection is Pityriasis Alba. This disease is not dangerous, but annoying as a blemish due to the appearance of white patches on the legs, arms, and other areas of the body, especially in children and young people. The patches rarely itch, but they are scaly and also take the face, especially in summer. Probably very dry skin or skin affected by atopic dermatitis or psoriasis seem to have a greater impact on the manifestation of this pathology. Pityriasis Alba goes away after a fortnight on its own.However, it is advisable to constantly moisturize the skin and use protective creams from sun exposure. White spots also form due to excessive exposure to sunlight over the years, without using highly protective creams. the appearance of the first spots. They often appear on the legs, because they are an area very exposed to the sun, then they spread to the arms, back, sometimes even on the face. Sometimes the white spots on the legs are due to poor blood circulation or from contact with harmful cleaning products Their white color tending to blue is a sign of a lack of oxygen in the affected area.
White spots on the legs: Vitiligo
Another reason for the unsightly white spots on the legs and the rest of the body may be Vitiligo, an autoimmune disease of uncertain causes, perhaps also linked to thyroid dysfunction or hereditary factors. Vitiligo, also called leucoderma from the ancient Greek, manifests itself with quite extensive, irregular and white spots, which can spread all over the body on feet, knees, face, neck, arms, hands, sometimes even on nails, eyes and genitals. The causes of this pathology, which appears at a young age, are not yet clear. It is thought to be above all a hereditary factor, also worsened by hyperthyroidism, anemia due to the absence of vitamin B12, adrenal insufficiency and stress. As a therapy we try first of all to reduce the chromatic discoloration between the hypopigmented areas and those with normal skin color. Packs of olive oil and avocado or neem oil and lavender can be natural home remedies effective in less severe cases. If this pathology manifests itself in a rather serious way, it is necessary to resort to phototherapy. Vitiligo causes great psychological distress to those who suffer from it lowers their self-esteem. Many people feel embarrassed, the disease undermines their self-esteem, their balance and psychological well-being to the point of rejection of their external appearance. With Vitiligo there is often the concomitance of other health disorders, thyroid problems, pernicious anemia, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia, alopecia areata, all autoimmune diseases.
White spots on the legs: Guttate hypomelanosis and therapies
The white spots on the legs and arms are very often due to guttate hypomelanosis, typical of women over 50. These are small rounds of white color especially on the legs, arms and décolleté, areas that are very exposed to the sun. known especially in summer for the greater discoloration between the tan and the less pigmented areas. The causes are found in an exaggerated and continuous exposure to sunlight, perhaps without protection and in skin aging. There is no treatment for hypomelanosis guttata; you can only do prevention by limiting sun exposure and using very high protection. When the triggering cause is fungal or infectious, the dermatologist usually prescribes antifungal ointments to stop the spread of the spots from the legs to the rest of the body. To cure Pityriasis Versicolor, the treatment involves the use of specific ointments on the spots for about fifteen days, which usually disappear after a month from the end of the treatment. If the problem returns, the dermatologist usually recommends oral medications. There are also natural remedies such as aloe vera or carotene. For Pityriasis Alba there are specific dermatological creams and quality cleansers. Also for spots due to skin aging, in addition to particular cosmetics, there are new remedies such as photodynamic therapy used. more and more in cosmetic surgery. Needling is also widely used, a therapy to regenerate melanocytes, using a series of needles. In the event that the white spots are caused by poor blood circulation, the specialist can propose interventions, after examining the arterial and venous circulation, to solve the problem definitively.
White spots on the legs and arms: how to cover them?
To cover the spots on the legs and arms in the summer, you can use a spray self-tanning cream to more easily obtain a homogeneous appearance. The shade must be chosen carefully, in order not to obtain the opposite effect, that is to highlight the discoloration. This skin blemish in winter will be easily concealed by silk or colored or tightly woven stockings. On the face they can be covered with concealer and foundation in a color very similar to non-depigmented skin. If it is about vitiligo, there are in the pharmacy some ultra-opaque cracks specific for this pathology, also resistant to sweat and strong heat and even surgical interventions are performed to remedy this imperfection. There are also white spots on the nails (leukonychia) at all ages. The causes can be: deficiencies in nutrition, vitamin B6 and zinc, mycosis, excessive use of enamel without pauses or adding other enamel without removing the previous one with the solvent, an operation that definitely ruins the surface layer of the nail.
