A white rash on your skin can occur as a result of many skin conditions.
The most severe cause involves basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
White spots triggered by skin cancer should be diagnosed promptly to prevent severe conditions from worsening.
Natalie Zotova / 500px / Getty Images
The more melanin present, the darker the color of your eyes, skin, and hair.
Sun spots usually appear after age 40 and increase with age.
Sun spots occur in all skin types and races.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023
However, their appearance is more dramatic in darker-skinned racial and ethnic groups.
Among White people, sun spots occur more often in those with brown eyes and brown hair.
Thesekeratin-filled cysts do not cause any pain or itching.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023
This can occur for no reason.
Milia can also occur as a secondary symptom after an injury, burn, or other condition.
Milia can develop in infants, children, and adults.
DermNet/CC BY-NC-ND
While milia resemblewhiteheads, milia should not be popped or squeezed.
Attempting to remove milia in this way can cause scarring.
Milia are not related to acne because they do not form within pores.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Dr Richard Ashtondermnetnz.org2023
They form just under your top layer of skin.
It mostly occurs in children and adolescents age 3 to 16 years.
It can also occur in people of any age.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
The condition is more prominent and more common in people with darker skin.
While the cause of pityriasis alba is unknown, it often occurs with dry skin and atopic dermatitis.
It often appears after sun exposure, likely because the affected skin looks lighter than the surrounding tanned skin.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Te Whatu Oradermnetnz.org2023.
Vitiligo
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Dr Richard Ashtondermnetnz.org2023
Vitiligocauses patches of skin to lose pigment.
The affected skin turns a milky white.
Research indicates that vitiligo may have genetic causes.
It occurs more often in people who have a family history of the disorder.
Symptoms can appear before age 20 in all races, starting in early childhood.
The condition affects all races and only occurs before midlife.
It appears as patches that are lighter or darker than your natural skin color.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Te Whatu Oradermnetnz.org2023.
They are otherwise asymptomatic.
Milia: These asymptomatic skin spots appear as pearly bumps that do not present a health threat.
However, they can cause an annoying cosmetic issue.
While they grow up to 2 mm in size, they are often smaller.
Pityriasis alba: This condition starts as red or discolored, scaly patches on your face and arms.
After it resolves, it leaves areas of scaling hypopigmentation.
The lesions may be round, oval, or irregular in shape.
Vitiligo: Vitiligo can start as a small white patch that differs in color from your normal skin tone.
As the spot becomes paler, it can turn completely white.
Tinea versicolor: These patches are slightly reddish brown on pale skin but do not tan.
As a result, they look like white spots on darker skin.
A fine dry scale may coat the patches.
Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma can look different in different people.
A dermatologist can easily diagnose many skin conditions by visually examining the affected area.
This can include:
Other tests may be used based on the types of symptoms present.
Some types of white spots may be harmless to your health.
Treatments can include the following.
Topical treatments:
Procedures:
No treatment is advised for milia in babies.
These spots typically resolve on their own.
Contact a dermatologist for a treatment regimen designed to help manage the condition causing your symptoms.
General skin care to reduce the incidence of clogged pores and dryness can support healthy-looking skin.
Specific symptoms and treatments for a white rash vary based on the cause.
Contact a dermatologist or general healthcare provider if you notice changes in the color or texture of your skin.
American Cancer Society.What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers?
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.5 skin spots you shouldn’t worry about.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Vitiligo.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Tinea versicolor.
Cedars Sinai.Tinea versicolor (pityriasis versicolor).
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma warning signs.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma risk factors.
Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.Why do I get white spots on my skin from the sun?
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis.
USF Health Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery.What are milia and how do you get rid of them?
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis alba.
Vitiligo Society.What you should probably know about vitiligo.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is a dermatologist?
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Diagnosis of skin disorders.
Stanford Medicine Health Care.What are sun spots?
UC Davis Health Department of Dermatology.Vitiligo.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin care tips dermatologists use.
Food and Drug Administration.Sunscreen: how to help protect your skin from the sun.
