Most parents are worried when they observe white patches on their children’s skin over the face and bring them for consultation. Many of them have heard that these are due to some deficiency and others think that these are due to some serious skin disease, for this reason I thought of writing about these.
These patches are whitish (not shiny white), has ill defined margin and merge with the surrounding skin. They are oval or round in shape, about 0.5cm to 5cms in size, mildly scaly and usually occurs on face. These may occur on arms or chest also. These are very common, about 30 to 50 percent of children get them. They occur on dark as well as white skin but are more prominent on dark skin because of contrast.
These are known as pityriasis alba. Cause is not known. These may be mild form of eczema and at times may be related to dandruff in hair. They are not due to any deficiency nor due to worms or stomach upset. No treatment helps, however you can apply some moisturizing cream. They will disappear any time between one month to one year of age.
There are other reasons for white patches but they are different than what I have described and are not so common.
TC
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
Easy Baby Care 
October 3, 2010 at 5:50 am
Good day deat dr.
Ur blog i very informative.i always thought white spots r due to calcium deficiency.anyways now frm ur blog got to knw.
Keep on posting.
Bye
October 4, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Thank you . comments like yours gives me the incentive to keep on writing the blogs
January 18, 2012 at 11:09 am
My daughter is fare and she has a round patch of say 1cm diameter in her face on the cheeks. Is what you are describing above same or is it differernt. We thought she had some ring worm infection and applied some cream. Please advice
January 18, 2012 at 6:58 pm
White patches that I have described can occur on faces of children with fare skin also. Among them it becomes prominent when rest of the skin becomes tanned due to exposure to sun’s rays.
Ring worm is caused by fungus. It is an itchy reddish rash with well defined borders. While white patches has no itching and has ill defined borders. Mostly it is not difficult to differentiate the two. If you apply an antifungal cream over the ring worm patch, it will disappear.
I presume, most probably your child has the common white patches (pityriasis albae). However if any doubt do consult a doctor.
TC
March 20, 2012 at 8:16 am
Thanks a Lot for this article!! I am so relieved that my 1 year old is not vitamin deficient 🙂
Keep up the good work!!
Rajani
April 2, 2012 at 6:19 am
My son is 7 & 1/2 months and he had a little redness & slight rash around his mouth which has settled down now & it’s fine but the skin in that whole area has become lighter. There is a difference in his skin color on his cheeks and on the area around his mouth. I know babies often get skin rashes but it seems like this one has left a mark on his skin. Will this get better, should I apply ointment or something?
April 2, 2012 at 11:07 am
Dear Neha
Your baby probably had some mild inflammation around the mouth. This has healed but that part of the skin has lost its pigmentation. There is nothing to worry. Normally the superficial skin cells, which are known as keratinocytes are constantly being shed and are replaced by new skin cells that grow at the base of the epidermis. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the new cells to grow and make their way to the surface. So in the case of your baby, when this depigmented superficial skin gets replaced, your baby will have normal colour skin. No ointment will help as this is a natural process. However if the skin is dry you can apply normal cream or oil.
June 6, 2013 at 4:19 am
hi neha did your son get better would like to know cos my daughter has similar problem
April 3, 2012 at 4:47 am
Thanks so much doc, relieved to read that it’s not serious or permanent 🙂
April 18, 2012 at 4:22 am
I am 30 yrs old and recently I’ve found a small white patch on my face which i try hard to cover using foundation. May i know the cause and also the solution.
April 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
I am sorry Pushpa I can not help you . I am a Pediatrician and I answer questions only for children. Causes of white patches on face are different for adults and I recommend that you consult a skin specialist for this.
April 27, 2012 at 1:36 am
How do you treat the white spots so they go away permently?
April 27, 2012 at 6:21 am
Hi doctor:
My son is 3 and half,he had these round white spot on his right side of his cheek,it starts about 9 months -one year ago it was one spot at that time,i did not consider it as something serious but now 2 months ago another 2 spots has show up on the same side,and the old one become a little bigger ,now i am so worried…he does not eat fruit ,is it a deficiency or it something related to the one u described((pitriyasis alba))!!….
P.s: he drinks milk although he allergic to some milk proteins.
waiting for your reply,what is that spots and what i should do it him???
April 30, 2012 at 11:13 am
My baby is 6 and half months old and recently developed white patches on cheeks. The spot appeared the next day after I switched from Nan Pro 1 to Nan Pro 2. Could it be related?
May 7, 2012 at 4:54 am
My baby is 20 months old after her first birthday a white patches appeared on her lower lips now this patches is increasing slowly & two three patches also papered now on her left cheek,i am too worry plz tell me what i do?
May 7, 2012 at 9:20 am
Dear Yousra,Anjali,and Mrs Majid,
Although most commonly white spots on children’s face are due to pityriasis alba but there are other causes also such as
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids.
If in doubt you should consult a doctor.
As I have mentioned in my blog these are not due to any vitamin deficiency, so Yousra these are not related to your child not eating fruits.
How ever if your child does not take fruits child can get vitamin c deficient which can cause other problems.So If you can not make him take fruits then you can give juices or nibupani. If that is not possible then a multivitamin drops which contains vitamin c can be be given to him.
Anjali it is unlikely that these spots can be due to switching to nan2. The fact that these appeared when you gave him nan2 may be coincidental.
Mrs Majid White spots over lips are unlikely to be pityriasis alba so I think you should consult a dermatologist.
Tc
May 29, 2012 at 6:26 am
My daughter is 13 yrs old and has white patches which suddenly occurred on her face what would be the reason for this or how this will go.
June 16, 2012 at 4:57 am
Dear Sunil
Sorry for not replying earlier.
Please read the reply I gave to Yousra,Anjali,and Mrs Majid on 7 May for a similiar problem as yours, I think this should answer your query. If you have any other concern please let me know.
Dr Raj rani Mitra
June 20, 2012 at 9:32 pm
My son 19 months old has white patches on his lower lip, below his chin, on his knee and edge of fingers and feet. I’m very worried it’s been spreading since 3 months ago. What do you think and why the patches are spreading?
June 27, 2012 at 11:30 am
Dear Neby
As there are white patches on multiple spots in case of your child,and as these are spreading, I suggest that you consult a paediatrician or a dermatologist as these can be due to any of the following causes-
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids.
If by any chance you come to Delhi You can come to my clinic after making an appointment at +918826183680
June 23, 2012 at 11:48 am
Hi doctor
My son is 6 months old and he has developed white patches on his cheeks and his chin skin has completely faded out. We have prescribed by our GP to use Cetomacrogol cream, does this increase more patches and is it safer to use on child’s face.I am planning to use Oilatum while bathing, will that help?
June 27, 2012 at 11:22 am
Dear Sujana
As I have mentioned in my blog, white patches on children’s face are usually due to pityriasis alba but there are other causes also such as
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids.
If in doubt you should consult a doctor.
Cetamacrogol is not harmful but no cream is going to be of any use, as these will take its own time to heal. Yes you can use oilatum as this will keep the skin moist.
June 27, 2012 at 5:22 pm
hello doc, even on my son’s face i have found these white patches. before it was only on one side now it has come on 2nd side also.
We have consulted our pediatrician, he says might be becoz of worms in stomach. we have given him the Bandy syrup. but still these white patches are there.
One more thing is these white patches on my son’s face becomes dry. We keep on applying some moisturizer but no help, it remains dry.
Is it same what you are talking abt.?
July 6, 2012 at 7:02 am
Dear mamta
White spots on the face are usually due to pityriasis alba. There are other causes also as I have mentioned in my blog. White spots are never due to worms.
As you mentioned that skin is rough, so it is possible that your child has mild eczematous
tendency. A very mild hydrocortisone cream like locoid may help. These spots may take 5 to 6 months to disapear.
June 29, 2012 at 8:59 am
Hi Doctor,
my son is 2-1/2 years old and i am seing some white patches on his face..initially it was near his lips(side),now 2 more patches are appearing on his cheeks..i can feel with my soft hands the area of the marks…can you please suggest what is the cause and remidy..
July 6, 2012 at 7:10 am
Dear Gautama
I get many queries about white spots on the face and I have replied to most of these. I suggest that you read these replies and retread my blog. If you still are not satisfied with these you may need to consult a dermatologist or pediatrician.
If you, by any chance are in Delhi I can see your child. Phone at this ph no 8826183680 for appointment.
July 10, 2012 at 4:42 pm
My daughter is 7.5 months old.Couple of months some small reddish patches occured on her face.Initially the peadiatrician said it could be due to dry skin.We applied oil,used ‘teddy’ soap ..But unfortunately it did not reduce.Later we consulted with another peadiac and he asked us to use Zole cream assumin it to be fungas.
Now the patch has become smooth but it turned white and it has increased.
In effect different patches got joined to become a bigger path.Now the doctor has asked to stop Zolo and start with Desoven.We are administering vitamin drops as well as instructed by doctor to counter any vitamin deficiency.
Could my child is having pityriasis alba? or something else?
We have been asked to use cetaphil (moisturizer) as well.
July 11, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Dear Jagadeesh
As these spots on your child’s skin started as reddish patches, it is likely that these were due to some inflamation, could be fungus infection or some other inflamation. Now that these spots have turned into white patches, the inflamation has healed, but that part of the skin has lost its natural melanin pigment, and that is why the skin is white. Now over a period of time, few weeks to few months, the old skin cells will be replaced by new skin cells( a natural process which takes place all the time). So after this period of time you will find that the white patches have disappeared. Since this is a natural process, no cream is going to help and also as these white patches are not due to vitamin deficiencies, vitamin drops are also not necessary. Vitamin drops should be given to a baby, only, if she is not getting proper diet. Since you are so concerned about your child, i think it is unlikely that you are not giving proper diet to your baby. However if in doubt, let me know her dietary history and I will let you know whether she needs vitamin drops or not.
As I have mentioned in my blog that beside pytriasis alba there are other causes for white spots,so I can give the right diagnoses only after seeing your child. If by any chance you are in Delhi you can contact me at this phone no.,8826183680.
tc
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
July 19, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Hi, Pls let me know an oitment for reating eczema in my 2 yo.
July 25, 2012 at 10:23 am
Dear Latha
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic disease. It usually occurs among babies at around 2 to 4 months of age. Most children grow out of it by the time they are 3 to 5 years age.
Its cause is not known. It is due to a hypersensitive reaction similar to allergy, however doing allergy tests and avoiding products that child is allergy to, do not help. It is a genetic disease, does run in families. The latest theory is that these children have a defective skin barrier, due to a defective protein, which is required to maintain hydration of skin. So varies types of irritants which come in contact with the skin of these children cause inflamatory reactions.
There is no single ointment that will cure eczema. However by using a regime of treatment you can keep eczema in check so that the child remains comfortable.
The measures you must take are-
Moisturizers
Prevent the skin becoming dry by applying a un perfumed moisturizer, several times a day.
Use bath oil when giving bath, either put oil in the bath water or apply oil over the skin before giving bath.
Do not use soap but use soap substitute like cream wash.
After bath, mop dry skin, but not completely. Apply a moisturizer over the wet skin.
Avoid triggers
Avoid contact with animals, especially furry pets like dogs and cats.
Reduce house dust mite in the environment. House dust mite is found in the mattresses, carpets, pillows and stuffed toys. It is better not to have carpets especially in the bed rooms. Mattresses and pillows should be covered with dust proof materials. There should be very few stuffed toys in the room. Once a week these should be washed at 60℃ or if not washable, these can be put in a plastic bag and then kept in a freezer for 24 hours. Bed linen also should be washed at 60℃.
Try to avoid nylon and woollen clothes next to skin. Use cotton ones
Clothes of the child should be washed in mild detergents and should be rinsed thoroughly after wash. Fabric softener should not be used.
Avoiding any kind of food does not help. In fact if you cut down on essential food stuffs child’s nutrition will suffer. If you find that drinking or eating certain food like citrus juices irritates the skin around the lips, then you can apply thick ointment around lips before giving that food stuff.
Steroids
In spite of taking above precautions, if your child still has a scaly rash which is itchy then you will need to apply topical steroids. Topical steroid cream or ointment (cream for wet lesions and ointment for dry lesions) should be applied over the lesions 2 to 3 times a day. A mild steroid like a hydrocortisone is quite safe. Stronger steroids like betamethasone, momentasone furoate, clobetasol propionate should be avoided. However in case of severe eczema these can be used for short intervals. At times when there is a severe flare up one may need to use oral steroid for a short period.
Antihistamines like cetrizine, loratidine(non sedating) or chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine (sedating).
With the use of these, the child scratches less and will be able to sleep peacefully at night. Giving this daily has no side effects and it is not addictive.
Infections
Other problem with eczema is that as the skin is un protective, infections occur easily. If it is a mild infection then local antibiotic cream like mupirocin or fucidin will suffice, however with severe infections, oral antibiotics may be required.
For children who get repeated infections antiseptic in the bath water may help.
Children with eczema are susceptible to cold sores due to herpes simplex infection. If these occur, one should contact a doctor immediately so that anti herpes medicine can be given.
Other precautions that may help
Nails of the child should be cut short, and if necessary gloves should be used at night to avoid scratching.
Excessive heat and cold should be avoided, as far as possible.
Do not allow anyone to smoke near the child as this irritates the skin.
I hope with these measures you can keep your child’s eczema under control. If you need any other information do not hesitate to contact me.
TC
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
September 23, 2012 at 11:41 am
my daughter is 5 years old. I have noticed that she gets spot son her face, if I regulary use soap. The frequency is so high that she gets the spots with in a month if i use the soap regularly. and then if i stop using anything… just wash the face by water. these spots goes off in few weeks. i got the idea of not using soap from her Dr, when she was arround 1 yr old. even i have similar problem, but the frequncy is bit low… after regualar usage of soap for 6-8 month. is my daughter is also having eczema?
i tried J&J soap, tip to toe… but nothing helped. kindly suggest the names of soap/cream which might help my doughter.
September 27, 2012 at 10:23 am
Dear Seema,
If your child was allergy to soap, the patches would come immediately after using the soap and not a month later. However if you are still convinced that it is due to soap you can try some herbal soap made by a reputable company like Himalayas. I can not promise that this will help but there is no harm in trying. Dandruff in the hair and also usage of hair oil can produce these patches, so stop using hair oils if you use it, and see that you and your daughter do not have any dandruff. For the nutrition of hair, oil is not necessary at all. A good well balanced diet will give all the nutrition to the hair. As beside the white patches there is no other problem it is unlikely to be eczema.
October 26, 2012 at 11:47 am
Thanks Rajrani ji. I am actually not sure if this was due to the alergy to soap or not. It might be some other problem that soap increases the impact. Its actually just an observation that if i continuously use soap even once in a day, then also the patch comes up in my babys face. continuous usage increases the spot size and stoppage of using soap reduces the spot and even goes of slowly. I tried for arroun 3-4 months and used the soap occasionally, once in a week or might be twice sometimes. and the white spots were not noticed even in 3-4 months. Just started using pears soap arround 2 months back… even that didnt helped and agan she got spots. I’ll try himalayan products as well, as you suggested.
Regarding Dandruff. normally we dont have it except during winter period dec-jan/feb. for Oil, in hair, I do apply once in a week. i’ll try not using even in that frequncy.
can you just suggest what exactly could be the problem.
April 5, 2013 at 4:37 pm
is pityriasis albla dangerous reply fast
April 5, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Dear deep
pityriasis alba is not dangerous.many children get this and it always disappear.
July 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Dear doctor,
My daughter is 6 years old and fair in colour. she has some white patches on her right chin, since sep.2011. the doctor said that it is vitamin difficiancy and gave zivinix syrup. but it wont help. After few months the white patches becomes more visible at below the eye, near ear. i conculted another doctor. he said as vitiligo and gave some oinments. After applying the oinment Pacroma her eye hairs (04 nos) becomes white. I worried about it. Is there possible to get eye hairs black? please suggest to cure this. she regulary takes vegitables, fruits, fish, chicken and eggs.
July 25, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Dear Rajeswaran
The type of white patches that you described are not caused by vitamin deficiencies, so naturally giving extra vitamins in form of medicines is not going to help. The diet that you are giving to your child contains all the essential nutrients.
The most important task at this stage is for you get the right diagnoses. You must show your child to a dermatologist If the diagnoses is vitiligo, then you must realise that this is a chronic disease. There is no magic cure for this. You must get treatment from a dermatologist, who has good experience in treating this type of problem. There are various types of treatment for this condition; your doctor will select those which are most suited to your child.
The whitening of the hair on eyebrows can also be part of the same disease. Cause of Vitiligo is not known, it is probably an autoimmune disease. There is no reason why certain people get these types of diseases and why others do not get it, so there is nothing that you could have done to prevent this. In this disease, for some reason the pigment cells, melanocytes are destroyed resulting in these white patches.
Prognosis is variable. Response to therapy is slow, taking many months to years. Some get cured and some do not. In some cases spontaneous remission is seen. My advice is to have a positive attitude, do continue with the treatment that your doctor advices you and there is a good chance that your daughter will get better.
July 26, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Hi Doc,
I have read this blog and went thru all replies. My 21 months old daughter, when she was 1.5 months old, this white patches appear on her chick visibly 3-5 cm size in oval shape. Reading your blog makes me believe it is pityriasis alba only. But still doubt that after this many months new skin cells must have been developed, but that white patches is still there not increasing or spreading. She is not feeling kind of itching or skin dry, it is normal only.
I have consulted two peadiatrician. One have suggested cream Eumosone M having mild steroid saying it is hypopigmented patch but we dint purchased it. Another peadiatrician have suggested Efatop PE (Sodium pyrrolidone Carboxylic acid 2.5% w/w, Sodium Lactate 2.5% w/w, Olive Oil BP 3%, Vitamin E acetat 1%, Perfumed Creame Base Q.S). We used it for 3 days and then stopped as she was at that time 14 months and thought she may touch it and put her fingures in mouth or something.
Sometimes we used to apply neem tree leaves and Tulsi leaves making paste of it using little water (prescribed by my mon as per her Ayurvedic knowledge) and applying it for 3 months while she sleeps. But in morning it drys so when removing it skin become reddish and white patch becomes little less visible. But I believe it is still as is.
I am in dillemma weather should consult dermatologist or not. If by any luck if I will be in delhi, I have noted down your number to take appointment for my daughter. But what you recommend here. Is it pityriasis alba or something else. Should we consult dermatologist? Do you have any good reference in pune who is good at this and we can visit him/her.
July 29, 2012 at 9:37 am
Dear Nirav
Although it is dificult to make a diagnoses without seeing a patient, nevertheless, after reading the details that you have given about the white patch on the skin of your child, I think this could be a birth mark.These types of birth marks may disappear over time or may not.I will advice you not to use any medicinal cream over it as it will be of no use. It will be a good idea to consult a dermatologist. Anyway if you do come to delhi i will be very glad to see her.
TC
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
July 30, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Hi Doc, Thanks a lot for your reply. But I am sure it is not birth mark, as I have seen her all snaps from birth, where it starts appear after 1 and half month only. I doubt one thing about this may be implication of DPT Vaccine. As I know DPT Vaccine should be given in muscle only, but while doctor injected some blood also came out at that time. We asked at that time doctor about why blood came, he told sometime it happens. But I doubt is it the side effect of that vaccine caused this patch or not.
Anyways I know I cannot change past, but need to take care as it is on her cheek. And yest let me found good dermatologist.
Thanks for your quick reply on this.
July 30, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Dear nirav
The birth marks are not always seen at time of birth but can be seen later on. Side effect of DPT vaccine is never,a white patch especially on the cheek even if the blood comes out. Anyway it is a good idea to consult a dermatologist.
Do let me know what diagnosis dermatologist gives.
Regards
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
Sent from my iPad
July 30, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Hi Doctor, your information about the white spots on children’s face is very informative and helpful. Well, my daughter is 6 years old and at the age of three lots white spots of about 0.5cm to 3cms in size, occurred on my daughters face which made me really sad now she turning 6 and i could see almost half the white spots has gone away. I consulted with skin doctor but they responded me that it is normal. Now my another daughter who is turning 2 has even started developing some white spots on her face like her sister and that made me more sad.
So Doctor, will these white spots developed on my daughters face go off. What would you advice me for getting rid of aforesaid problems.
August 1, 2012 at 9:37 am
Dear Sonam
It is difficult to make a diagnoses without seeing a patient, however as your skin doctor was not cocerned about these spots and as they are disappearing these are most probably pityriasis alba.
In my experiance if you stop applying oil on hair, these spots may disappear more rapidly than otherwise. Hair oil is not necessary for the nutrion of hair, as the latter get the nutrtion from what ever one eats and drinks.
August 23, 2012 at 7:02 pm
hi Dr,
my son is 4months old.past 2 weeks he got white mixed with reddish patches on his cheeks ,side of the eyes and forehead..very small red pimples like bubbles also in them.i dont think its itchi.i apply vaselline.now the skin become soft but still the patches is there.its in ovel shape.in evening time its turning more redish…is this the same what you mentioned ?ya somethingelse?
August 24, 2012 at 10:14 am
Dear Hrishkesh,
Reddish rashes over the face of babies of this age are very common. These can be accompanied with very small pimples as you have described. These could be due to excessive heat, excessive cold, contact with something that has been applied over face, and at times due to the baby being kissed on the cheek too often. Most of the times we do not know the cause. Rashes on the face also occur if babies have seborrheic dermatitis over the scalp. At times these rashes could be mild form of eczema especially if the rashes are scaly and itchy.
Most of these rashes will disappear on their own. It may take a few months for these to go. It is better, not to apply anything over face. However if the skin is dry then you can apply Vaseline. If it is a scaly rash and itchy then a mild hydrocortisone cream can be applied. It is advisable if you take advice of your doctor before using this. Seborrheic dermatitis should be treated with regular shampooing.
At times when these rashes disappear, a whitish patch remains which may take a few months to go.
TC
Dr Raj rani Mitra
August 23, 2012 at 7:18 pm
hi Dr,
my son is four months old..he is having white patches on his face.round in shape and a clear boundary…sometimes its very red in colour..very dry skin in dat area.sometimes both eyelids also turned red.i applied vaselline baby cream .now it become soft but that white patches is visible.i am an asthma patient and using asthalin inhaler,is this affect anyway to my baby….only feeding breastmilk to him.is this because of vitamin deficiency?this patches is in both sides of the eyes ,both cheeks and forehead..what do i do?
August 24, 2012 at 10:31 am
Dear Savitha
Asthalin inhalers do not cause rashes on baby’s face. In fact the medicine that you take via inhalers do not go to your blood and so it is not present in the breast milk and thus can have no effect on your baby.These rashes are also not due to vitamin defieciency. How ever you should take a well balanced diet which contains all the vitamins that are required.
Be sure that you get plenty of sunshine, drink milk. If not possible then you should take vitamion D and calcium tablet
Reddish rashes over the face of babies of this age are very common. These can be accompanied with very small pimples. These could be due to excessive heat, excessive cold, contact with something that has been applied over face, and at times due to the baby being kissed on the cheek too often. Most of the times we do not know the cause. Rashes on the face also occur if babies have seborrheic dermatitis over the scalp. At times these rashes could be mild form of eczema especially if the rashes are scaly.
Most of these rashes will disappear on their own. It may take a few months for these to go. It is better, not to apply anything over face. However if the skin is dry then you can apply Vaseline. If it is a scaly rash and itchy then a mild hydrocortisone cream can be applied, however it is advisable if you take advice of your doctor before using this. Seborrheic dermatitis should be treated with regular shampooing.
At times when these rashes disappear, a whitish patch remains which may take a few months to go.
tc
Dr Raj Rani Mitra
September 14, 2012 at 4:19 pm
thanx 4 ur rply Dr….v consulted our pediatrician,he advised to apply Betamethasone Dipropionate cream….now the reddish bubbles disappeared…the white patches still visible..as u told v r waiting for that to go….
August 28, 2012 at 5:36 pm
My baby has atopic rashes on her face which are coming back in a day or 2, I am applying flutivate cream at night and efatop pe lotion .
September 2, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Dear Afreen,
Atopic dermatitis (eczema ) is a self limiting disease in babies. With time they grow out of it. Treatment is given for relief as there is no cure for it, That is the reason after you stop the treatment it comes back again. I would suggest that you should apply moisturizers several times a day, a cream will better than lotion. Apply steroid cream especially on the face sparingly. Instead of flutivate, it will better if you apply steroid cream containing hydrocortisone, which is milder. However you can use flutivate if rashes are severe with lot of itching. Overtime your child will get better.
I had written on this topic on 25th july. I suppose you have read it. You will find further information about this topic from that blog.
September 14, 2012 at 3:59 pm
dear Dr, im worried about somethingelse apart from white patches of my son…he just turned his 5th month,but he is not rolling from his back to stomach…his neck is steady..and when im giving bath he is lifting his head properly….when he is lyng on bed ,sometimes he is rolling his head left to right continuously for 5=6 times….
September 15, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Dear Hrikesh,
Your baby is only 4 months of age. Babies roll over any time between 3 and a half month of age to 6 months of age. You must remember that there is a time period during which a baby attains a particular mile stone. One should only get worried when the baby has not attained the milestone even after the upper limit.
As to when a baby will attain a mile stone depends on various factors, for example temperament of the baby, the type of stimulation a baby gets, physical health of baby, whether baby was premature or not, and various unknown factors.
Denver development screening test is a good tool to monitor development of your baby. you can get this on Http.emohafed.kau.edu
Has your baby developed other mile stones like smiling and laughing?
tc
September 21, 2012 at 9:02 am
dear dr,
my baby is responding to everything…he is smiling and laughing,sometimes making some kind of sounds also.weight is gaining properly…nowadays he is trying to roll from his back to stomach….thanx for ur rply…..
September 21, 2012 at 11:19 am
Good. I am glad to know that every thing is ok with your child.
Now that he is rolling over, be careful, do not leave your baby on a bed unattended.See my blog on babies falling from bed. Tc
September 17, 2012 at 2:54 am
pls my 10weeks old baby has white patches on his face an at the back of his head just above the neck line close to his hair and i also notice there is no hair around white patche unlike the other side,what do i do?
September 21, 2012 at 11:38 am
Dear nazaben
Although most commonly white spots on children’s face are due to pityriasis alba but there are other causes also such as
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids
It is difficult to make a diagnosis without seeing your child. If you are in Delhi you can contact me for an appointment at 8826183680. If not, do contact a doctor and then let me know what diagnosis he\she has made and then i will try to help.
September 23, 2012 at 12:54 pm
my 5 month old daughter have white patches on her upper lips and now on eyelids and ear what it could be
September 27, 2012 at 10:28 am
Dear Ahmed,
As I have mentioned in previous replies, it is not possible to make a diagnosis without seeing the child, as there are many causes for white patches.
Although most commonly white spots on children’s face are due to pityriasis alba but there are other causes also such as
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids
It is difficult to make a diagnosis without seeing your child. If you are in Delhi you can contact me for an appointment at 8826183680. If not, do contact a doctor and then let me know what diagnosis he\she has made and then i will try to help.
September 25, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Dear Doc.,
I have read most of the reply which you have posted. It is very informative. I have a different question. As all said my daughter who is 4 months old have a same kind of shiny patch in her left cheeks. My worry is, in my child wood say in 12 years(now I am 30 yrs) I had a symptoms of Leprosy and I had got treatment and that time the treatment was for 6 months and I took it for 1 year that is twice. Doc said I am cure and no worries but I had some patches were doc said once the sensation lost is not able to regain.
So far I dont have any probs and no new patches. Now my worry is the shiny patch which see in my daughter face is any resemblance of ……
( My daughter is very fair and white color)
Need you kind consultation. Kindly help me in getting out of this confusion.
Jothi. J
September 27, 2012 at 9:50 am
Dear J.Jothi
Thank you for a very good question. I never mentioned about leprosy in my blog because it is very uncommon among the type of people who read my blogs.
Leprosy is acquired by prolonged close contact with a person who has active leprosy. It is mainly a clinical diagnosis and various tests are not very helpful in initial stages. This is diagnosed if there is loss sensation over white patch. If there is no loss of sensation, it is not leprosy.
As you do not suffer from leprosy now, it is most unlikely that your daughter can get this from you. You can do test for sensation on your daughter’s skin on the white patch. You can do this by pricking her with a sterile needle. Put enough pressure so that she feels the pain but not so much that it injures the skin. Ask someone else to play with her, so that she is distracted and then do it. If she cries out or has change of expression on her face, it means that sensation is intact. There after you can be sure that she does not have leprosy.
October 4, 2012 at 10:40 pm
hellodr.
my 4 year son has white spot near his eye it is lasting from 1 yeaar now it ismore visible recently i found a new spot pen dot size below his ear i have shown to homeopathy dr.he named it lucoderma but also said it has less scope to grow it will be cured but I am confused can it be due to worms in intestine of my child .pls help me out
October 6, 2012 at 10:53 am
Dear Priyanka
As I have written previously that there are many causes of white spots in children The most common cause is pityriasis alba. Vitiligo, although not all that common is a serious disease therefore one needs to exclude this.
In vitiligo, the skin is chalky white and slightly shining. The hair over the lesion also becomes white. The shape can be oval or round and the margins are sharp, whilst in pityriassis alba, skin over the lesion is not so white and is slightly scaly. The margins are diffuse and merges with the surrounding skin.
Vitiligo can spread and needs treatment whist pityriasis alba does not spread.It will disappear with time but sometimes may persist for a few years.
Your homeopathic doctor has diagnosed the lesion as leukoderma but this is not a diagnosis. The word leukoderma means white skin.
I suggest that if you are in doubt about the diagnosis, do consult a child specialist or a dermatologist.
White spots that you have described are not due to any deficiency, or worm infestations
October 7, 2012 at 11:08 pm
My 2 year old daughter has got white V shaped mark on her forehead and it is lasting from last six months. Is it something to worry about? Do i need to consult a doctor for this? I am bit worried now. Please advise.
October 8, 2012 at 9:59 am
Dear Nibedita
As I have mentioned in me previous blogs, there are many causes for white spots and it is not possible for me to make a diagnosis without seeing the child, however if you can send me the picture of your child’s forehead, I will try to make the diagnoses. you can send me the picture via my emaail.
November 4, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Hi rajrani,
My son has has this white patch since august. Doctors never educate me on what to do. I use aquaphor 3 times a day crave cleanser morning and night. Along with vitamin EI would like to send you a picture if possible. Also I have a dog mix breed Pomeranian Maltese. The doctor hashim on a nebulizer due to bronchitis. Please advise.
Thanks
October 26, 2012 at 8:05 am
Dear Doctor,
My 3 month old baby has few white patches surrounding her eye. i’m from chennai. can you please suggest me any doctor whom you know in chennai. thanks!!!
October 30, 2012 at 11:44 am
I am sorry AAradhya I do not know any doctor in Chennai
October 27, 2012 at 8:07 am
Hi doc, my son is three and has been having these white spots since he was 1. The doctor told me it was eczema and i get tired of people asking me if my son is low in iron he eats well and eats penalty of fruits and veggies well this ever go away.
October 30, 2012 at 11:40 am
Dear Catarina
The usual white spots that we see are mild form of eczema. These get more prominent when a child gets exposed to sunlight. As we all know, that sunlight darkens our skin. In these cases, most of the skin darkens but for some reasons some patches do not darken and they remain lighter colour. Later on when not exposed to sun, surrounding skin also become light colour and thus white patches disappear. There are some medicines like hydrocortisone or tacrolimus ointment, which help temporally however excessive usage of these medicines can have long term side effects. As the condition is benign, one should apply only a moisturiser and let the lesions take their natural course.
As for every one telling you about your child not eating veg and fruits, tell them that doctors have told you that these are not related to any deficiencies. If this does not help you should learn to ignore these remarks. Even if the white spots disappear, people around you will find some other reason to make such remarks.
November 4, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Hi rajrani,
My son has has this white patch since august. Doctors never educate me on what to do. I use aquaphor 3 times a day cerave cleanser morning and night. Along with vitamin E would like to send you a picture if possible. One doctor prescribed desonate. I was afraid to use it as i used a prescribe cream for his dermatitis rash. Also I have a dog mix breed Pomeranian Maltese. The doctor has him on a nebulizer due to bronchitis. Please advise.
Thanks
November 5, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Dear Fancy
Yes it will be helpful if you send me the picture of the white patch, and also a brief description as to where it is located, is the skin over it is smooth or scaly,are the margins sharp or merges with the surrounding skin, is it shining white or slightly white, and what is the size.
Also tell me details about the nebulizers as to for how long your child is getting it and what are the medications being used for nebulizers.
After your reply I will answer your queries
Tc
Raj rani
November 14, 2012 at 7:44 am
Hi,
The patches are slightly white i cant explain the borders . If you can send me your email i will send a picture. We have a dog maltese/ pomeranian. He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis over a week ago. He was placed on the nebulizer for one week 3x a day taking albuterol. As well as an antibiotic. At 2mths old he was prescribed alcometasone dipropionate cream for his atopic eczema on the face. Another doc prescribed desonate which i researched after i used 2x. Recently my doctor gave a prescription which i didnt fill for hytone 2.5 lotion. Yes i do want the patch to go away but do not want to use so many creams. I need some advice. Also it appears the patch grew in size on the cheek. Sometimes it blends in with his skin. I use aquaphor 2-3x a day cerave face wash and recently jojoba oil on the patch. Please help. How do i send a picture?
August 31, 2014 at 4:52 am
Update*
Hi Raj I stopped worrying as I love my son so much. I guess the doctor out of 5 was correct that it is a hypo pigmented birthmark. Now that he tan it is lighter than his skin. It takes up half his face. I guess this makes him unique. It bothered me at first because it was very foreign at first. Im assuming the doctors misdiagnosed him with vitilligo and PA. He is now 2 years old
Thanks a lot
Fancy
September 4, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Dear Fancy
Thanks for the update.
I am glad to hear that finally you know what the white patch is due to. Proper diagnosis is so important for any problem.
As you are, I am sure aware, that such birth marks are cosmetic problem. The problem with small children may be that other children may tease him. You should be aware of this possibility.
Firstly you and other members in the family, should see that he does not develop any complex about this. He should not get the idea that this is disfigurement. You can tell him that this adds to his beauty and also you can tell him this will bring him good luck in his life or any other such thing. Your attitude and those of the family members and your friends matters very much.
you should also see that other children do not tease him or bully him because of this. children can at times can be very cruel.
By the time he is a teenager you may be able to go for some cosmetic surgery , that is if your child wants it.
January 16, 2013 at 11:20 pm
my son is 2 n half months old..at 6 weeks he had developed a rash on his face ..which did become better..but again now is his cheeks are rough and mildly reddish .and has few white spots..can u plz tell me what can i doo..?.i apply moisturizer ..and sometimes..sudocrem..
January 17, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Dear ummaima
such rashes are common in babies. they can be due to weather changes or due to something you have applied over the face. These can also be due to seborrheic dermatitis( dandruff).
Applying moistrizer should be suffient. However if the rash is very rough and itching, you might need a mild steriod cream like hydrocortisone.Use this only for few days.
March 4, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Dear doctor,
My daughter is 6 months old now and she has white spot on his face. It started when she was 3 months old,first spot appear near her eye which was about 1 cm big, its still there(little settled) but few more spots appears now, one near ear ,one above lips or u can say on cheek,one below lower lip, one near another eye which is really big about 2.5cm. I did see doctor but she said there is no cure for this and all I could do is just apply moisturiser and keep it clean. I am really worried if you can give me any advise or assurance that what it is and would it go away by time?
March 5, 2013 at 9:46 am
White spots over face are usually due to ptyriasis alba which is a benign thing goes away with time. In such a small baby these are quite often due to seborrhic dermatitis.
If possible do send me her photo on my email rjrnmtr@gmail.com, i will try to answer your questions. However if you live near delhi, you can come to my clinic. My phone no is 9911101576.
March 5, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Hi. Thanks for reply. That is such a relief that it will go away with time.I won’t be able to come to clinic as I don’t live nearby delhi. But surely will send pics by email as soon as possible.
March 8, 2013 at 6:08 am
Hi Raj,
I emailed you a few months ago. You agreed it was pityriasis alba. I believe it is as he had seborrhic dermatitis. My son is now 11 mths and the mascules appeared to spread a little. I took him to the derm over the summer who said by the fall his skin will appear normal again. I called and made an apptointment. I told him I use the crave 2x a day and I switched from aquaphor to junior oilatum. I was adviced to use cetaphil restoraderm and was given a prescription to add PROTOPIC a very thin layer 2x a day for 6weeks.
March 9, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Daniel, I tried to look up your previous comments however I could not find those, did you write with another name.
Daniel, I am not a dermatologist, I am a child specialist. I wrote this blog because there are many misconceptions about these white spots.
If the spots on your child’s face are scaly and itching, then these are either due to asthma or seborrheic dermatitis, then these will respond to the medicine your doctor has given you. However main treatment would be to shampoo hair frequently and not to apply oil.
if there is no itching and scaling, it is a simple case of pityriasis alba. When children are exposed to sunlight, the skin becomes darker; however at times some parts of skin does not get pigmented, either because it does not get enough sunrays or that particular part has less melanin pigment. These spots will disappear if the skin is not exposed to sunlight, however this is not possible in our Indian climate, nor advisable.
So if the diagnosis about these spots being pityriasis alba is correct, then one should stop worrying about these.
March 9, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Daniel, i found your comments which were in name of fancy.
I persume you are in NY. During winter I persume there is hardly any sunshine there, so did the spots become less prominent.
However Seborrhic dermatitis increases in winter as one tends to shampoo less often.
March 12, 2013 at 5:06 am
hi doctor,
my daughter is 2 months old.she had atopic dermatitis over her face that was spreading.my doctor advised us to use ointment that contains mometasone furoate.i applied it just thrice.now she has developed white patches below her chin.is it because of the ointment as you mentioned before? and will these patches go by them-self?
regards
March 13, 2013 at 10:43 am
Yes this spot will go away by natural process;the old skin cells will be replaced by new skin cells, so there is no need for any medicine. However it may take several months. Do shampoo her hair frequently so she does not get seborrhic dermatitis.
March 12, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Dear doctor,
Srinivas from Hyderabad. We found a small patch like a dot almost a month back in my six years old daughter cheek. Now it is grown and it is 1.5cm diameter. No itchness on spot and initially it was a little rough surface, now it is smooth. Today we have shown to dermatologist and he started treatment for vitiligo. As per your suggestions it seems to be pityriasis alba. He has suggested a medicine 1. Decapeptide lotion 2. vitamins A & D capsules, 3. hydrocortisone acetate cream and 4. Multivitamin syrup. Now my question is for a pityriasis alba patient, can it use vitiligo medicine. is the medicine suggested is correct. We are in big confusion and request you to help us.
March 13, 2013 at 11:05 am
Dear Srivinas
What did your dermatologist tell you? is it vitiligo or pityriasis alba. Since you consulted him, it his duty to tell you as to what is the diagnosis, and if he is not sure about the diagnosis he should tell you so. If he did not tell you the diagnosis i suggest that you phone him up and ask him.
As far as the medicines are concerned, these medicines will not harm even if it is not vitiligo, however if you are using a and d vitamin cap, you should not be using multivitamin syrup as excesive vitamins can be harmful.
March 13, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Dear Doctor,
Very much thanks for your reply. When I met him yesterday, i asked him about disease. He said he is also not sure about this. he suggested above medicine. I have seen on pack of decapeptide lotion and observed it is for vitilgo. Doctor suggested that this lotion to be applied in the night and morning the same area to be exposed to sun rays for 10 min. Today morning i have shown the medicine to my pediatrician and he suggested to take second opinion before starting medicine.
For your more information, I married within the family(sister in law). My child eats more choclates and usually she not takes much general food like rice and chapathi.
This white patch is there on left cheek and today we observed a very small white dot on right cheek. Kindly suggest us. once again thanks for your message.
Regards
srinivas
March 14, 2013 at 11:21 am
Dear Sriniwas
I am as you may know , a child specialist and not a dermatologist. I wrote this blog as part of other blogs for parents concerning common problems of children. I have also written a book on babycare (easybabycare) which is available on the site easybabycare.net.
I consulted my dermatologist colleague, about the treatment that your doctor has prescribed. These medicines are used for vitiligo, at times it may help, and at times it may not. Dermatologist also uses these in chronic cases of pityriasis alba, again it may or may not help. However these drugs have no side effects. So I think you can use these.
You told me that you married in family, sister in law. Can you be more specific about the relationship, and then only I can say whether there is any genetic effect.
As far as the diet of your child is concerned, diet has no effect on these white spots. Too much chocolates will cause caries teeth, however if she looks after her teeth it should be ok. Everyone should eat well balanced diet, and you should try to instil good eating habits in your child. Do read the chapter “diet for children “in my book on easybabycare. This may help you in planning diet for your child.
Do let me know whether you have any further queries, and also do let me know after you have used the treatment whether the white spots have disappeared or not.
regards
March 14, 2013 at 4:51 pm
Dear Doctor,
Yesterday i have shown my child to senior dermatologist in yashoda hospital. He diagnosed as of now it is pytriasis alba only. he asked me to stop vitiligo medicine. I insisted him that to tell the disease is not vitiligo. he is not confirming that and he is saying that to confirm the disease only skin biopsy is the option. He asked us to wait twenty days.
Further my wife is my mother’s brother’s daughter. I have a four years old male child. He is suffering from OPTIC NERVE HYPOPLASIA in both eyes. He cannot see and doctors are saying that no treatment for this throughout world. I felt this is genetic disorder. We were happy by seeing my first child as she does not have any genetic disorder. But now she is also suffering with these white spots. Really we are not in position to understand how our lives are going to be.
However i will update you my child status to you
Thanking you
Regards
Srinivas
8897647444
March 19, 2013 at 10:00 am
Dear srinivaas
Actually there is no proof that optic nerve hypoplasia is a genetic disease. So your child might have had it even if you and your wife were not cousins.
As far as white spots are concerned, the dermatologist in yashodra hospital told you that most probably it is not vitiligo, then probably it is not. Normal white spots are very common in children . Actually one reason is that the skin under the white spots becomes less tanned when child gets exposed to sunlight. These spots will disappear if skin is not exposed to sunlight and thus no part of the skin gets tanned. However in our country children are out in the sun all the time, (which is a good thing) so these spots remain for a long time.
Yes do please let me know the progress
Tc
Sent from my iPad Raj Rani Mitra
March 20, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Thank you very much for your message Madam.
April 5, 2013 at 11:26 am
Dear Doctor Rajrani
My son is one year old and have 2-3 white (hypopigmented) patches on cheek (both side), and they are not flaky. He also have one small (0.5 CM) hypopigmentation patch on chest since birth. When we last time visited pediatrician and asked for this, he suggested that cheeks patches will go away with time but the one since birth can not be treated.
But I am mainly concerned about cheek patches. Can it be due to any vitamin defficiency, or Pityriasis Alba or anything else. Please provide any suggestion on treatment as well.
April 5, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Dear Madam,
By god’s grace and by blessings of peoples like you, my child white spots intensity is being reduced. Comparatively previous almost 70% of spot colour changed and we have not found any other spots. I will up date you after disappearing 100%.
My child is frequently suffering cold, vomtings and fever. Every month two days she will suffer like that. What could be the reason for this.
April 13, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Dear Madam,
After reading your artical i feel relax
April 19, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Thank you for your comment. I am so glad that my article has helped you.
April 15, 2013 at 1:53 pm
My son is having same problem of white patches. ..I want to know full details of this problem….
April 16, 2013 at 11:32 am
Dear Madam,
White spot got disappeared
Regards
Srinivs
April 16, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Hi,
I have tried everything my son first birthday is tomorrow and still the white spots are there and spread a little . I was wondering if anyone heard of natural remedies like cabbage and ginger leaves. I saw a new spot on his forehead. He has had this condition since last summer and it looks the same. We use moisturizer 5 times a day. Now im I’m my it is spring going into the summer I would hate for them to get worse
April 19, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Dear Danielle,
These white spots will certainly disappear, but how long it will take no one can say. I think you should stop worrying about these, because you can not do any thing about these.
K Sriniwas, like you was, so worried about similiar spots on her childs face,now he is releived that those have disapeared.
April 19, 2013 at 4:06 pm
I am so glad that the white spot on your child has disappeared, and thanks for letting me know.
Best time of our life is when our children are young.We become children all over again with them, playing all sort of games with them ,taking them to the zoo and parks.So do enjoy this time with them as this time will never come back.
TC
October 1, 2013 at 10:06 am
Srinivas garu can u tell me het medicines u used because my son is suffering from same disease het yr daughter had he is under treatment
October 8, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Dear chitra madam, sorry for the delay. I have not seen ur message till today. i have not remembered the medicine exactly. but those are one sunscreen and another ointment. Those medicine worked for my child as sanjeevani. As yashoda doctor said within 15 days spots got disappeared. That prescription is available with me. Today night i will check the same and tell u if u provide me your mail ID. I think you are also from Andhra pradesh, you can call me on 9032390025 in evening after 7PM.
April 20, 2013 at 9:24 am
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus the rest
of the website is really good.
April 20, 2013 at 5:57 pm
okk……i.m very much worrried abt this thanks
April 28, 2013 at 5:43 am
Excellent way of describing, and good article to take facts
concerning my presentation focus, which i am going
to deliver in school.
May 15, 2013 at 11:59 pm
my 6 year old daughter has recently developed white patches in her top eyelid and she has white spots in her knees and feet im very concerned, when she first developed in her right eyelid I took her to her doctor and he said it was normal because of the sun but now is both eyes and knees i am very concerned, i’ve been looking in the internet and most comes up with vitiligo im hoping and praying that its not, is there something else that can be casing the white spots
May 18, 2013 at 4:29 am
Dear Doctor
My son is 3&1/2 yes old.He developed white spots near his both ear on cheek two months before.We are in US.Consulted a doctor here.she has given Ketoconazole ointment to apply as she told it is fungal infection.But there is no development .Its there and it is increasing slowly n slowly. He never complaint for any itching. please advice what to do?
Thanks
Rashmi
May 24, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Dear rashmi
White spots on children’s face are usually pityriasis alba as i have mentioned in my blog. There is no treatment for this and these can take quite sometime too disappear.how ever I can make definite diagnosis only after seeing the child.
May 24, 2013 at 1:05 pm
my kids have patches in face . I think it may be due to dandruff so what i apply on their hair as they have sensitive hairs
May 24, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Dear seetha laxmi
You may be right. White patches are quite often due to dandruff.
I recommend using ordinary shampoo on alternate days, and no oil. Medicinal shampoos need to be applied only in severe cases.
May 27, 2013 at 10:00 am
Dear Mam,
My daughter is 5 yrs old. She has developed some white patches over her eye lids very samll in size but seem to be chronic as they are persisting from more than 7-8 months. i thought its just a skin infection so allied SURFAZ SN an anti bacterial creame many times but for no permanent improvement. Somebody told me today that this may be a kind of leprosy. Pls suggest as my family is not having that kind of medical history.
May 27, 2013 at 10:17 am
White spots on children’s face are very common. Usually these are benign, either allergy, or due to dandruff. These can take quite sometime to go. However there are other causes also like vitiligo, leprosy. A doctor has to see your child to make a diagnosis. If you are in delhi you can contact me at 9911101576.
You are right, for leprosy to occur, there has to be a contact with someone who has leprosy for quite length of time.if it is leprosy, there will be loss of sensation too. You can ask your child to close her eyes and then you should touch the spot with a Piece of cotton.If she can feel the touch then the sensation is normal. If she has normal sensation it is unlikely to be leprosy.
May 27, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for your reply Mam. today i will examine it in the manner suggested by you. Hope its not serious. Mam I am very much upset since morning , pls let me know about the possibilities of getting this permanently cured in case of leprosy. Hope u understand why am so much tensed.
May 30, 2013 at 7:41 pm
Leprosy is curable, so stop worrying about that.
May 29, 2013 at 7:19 pm
hi doctor, my son is 3 months old. For the past 2 weeks, I have noticed that he has a large white patch on his chin. the white patch has now spread to on top of his lips and it is a little rough in texture. The patches sometimes gets red after he is fed. I would like to know what is the cause and how I can treat it.
Please reply.
May 30, 2013 at 7:39 pm
I think these patches could be due to irritation caused by feed and saliva, although without seeing these i can not be hundred percent sure.
I recommend that before feeding him, you should apply a thick layer of cream over the skin around his lips,so that the food does not touch the skin.
May 31, 2013 at 4:47 am
If the patches are shiny whiny white, what would be the cause of it? What cream do you recommend?
June 1, 2013 at 7:02 pm
If the patches are shiny white and has well defined margin, then this could be vitiligo. In that case you need to consult a dermatologist.
May 30, 2013 at 9:13 am
HI
My daughter now 10yrs. When she was 8 she had developed a cut like rash in her private area it was delicate situation which healed later and entire inner labia was WHITE, after application of Mizo c and topgraf its coming back to normal and almost healed . i am always afraid of its reoccurrence and keep checking which now has started irritating her. Recently last month she has developed white patch on cheeks which is about 1 or 2 cm in size. I am afraid of vitiligo. Is this some deficiency or cause of concern as i have experienced white patch earlier with her? I would really appreciate your comments …. on what the earlier white patch was and what is this on her cheeks….. thanks awaiting your reply eagerly !!
May 30, 2013 at 5:23 pm
HI
My daughter now 10yrs. When she was 8 she had developed a cut like rash in her private area it was delicate situation which healed later and entire inner labia was WHITE, after application of Mizo c and topgraf its coming back to normal and almost healed . i am always afraid of its reoccurrence and keep checking which now has started irritating her. Recently last month she has developed white patch on cheeks which is about 1 or 2 cm in size. I am afraid of vitiligo. Is this some deficiency or cause of concern as i have experienced white patch earlier with her? I would really appreciate your comments …. on what the earlier white patch was and what is this on her cheeks….. thanks awaiting your reply eagerly !!
May 30, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Dear sheetal
Can you tell me what are the ingredients of the medicines, you mentioned, as what you mentioned are trade names.
The fact that the white spot on her inner labia, healed, means that it was not any thing serious, either she had a fungal infection or it could have been a minor injury. Injuries in these area can turn white during healing process.
There is no need for you to check repeatedly.
White patches on cheek are very common as i have mentioned in my blog. Almost every child gets this.there is no treatment, however it does disappear, but may take months. These are not due to any deficiencies.
Vitiligo is not very common. It usually runs in families. In this the white spot is shiny white and has sharp margin.
Let me know if you have any other queries.
Tc
May 30, 2013 at 7:38 pm
HI
Thank you so much for the information it is nice work you are doing by reaching out to parents like us through this blog.
Topgraf has tacrolimus ointment 0.03% mentioned on its tube. This worked and its good to know that its not serious as patch has disappeared and turned to normal color.
Thanks again !
May 30, 2013 at 7:55 pm
Thanks for letting me know.
Tacrolimus is used for atopic skin rashes. It is a new drug, can have side effects, so should be used only if necessary.
Most white spots disappear on their own, especially on cheeks, so there is no need to use this ointment.
I am glad that i am helping parents. I am retired now and have plenty of time for this work. Tc
Sent from my iPad Raj Rani Mitra
June 2, 2013 at 3:38 am
hello rani ji, i am desperately in need of your advise, my baby has white patches on his face ir read on net about vitiligo and i pityarisis alba and i dont know what it is, is it possible for me to send a photo to you to have a look at it
June 2, 2013 at 11:06 am
Yes do send me a photo i will try to diagnose although it is not always possible without seeing a child. Do let me know as to how old your child is and since when have you spotted these spots.
Meanwhile do read all the comments on my site about white patches,then i think you will get a good idea whether to worry about this or not.
October 16, 2013 at 10:38 pm
hi d
thanks so much for your advice. i had sent pics to u and u had told me not to worry it appears to be pityriasis alba. it has been 4 months and all his spots are gone
October 17, 2013 at 8:17 am
Thank you for letting me know. I am glad that your child is better and my advice decreased your worry.
Tc
June 7, 2013 at 2:34 am
My son is 51/2yr old frm past 2months I find white patches on both of his cheeks predominantly. I thought its due to interstine worms n tired giving medicine for that,but since few weeks I think it’s incresing all over his cheeks n he looks very pale. I would also like to tell u that he was born in india n now staying in uk from past 2.5yrs. Plz suggest me what can be done on this.
June 7, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Sandhya,
contrary to popular belief these white spots are never due to worms. If you read all the comments on these on my blog,you will realise that these are very common, and also why they occur.
You said that your son looks pale. If that is so,you need to get his hemoglobin done to exclude anaemia. Children who drink more than 500ml of milk are usually anaemic.
June 10, 2013 at 5:12 am
My 2 month old baby has developed white round patches on her neck area. It doesn’t seem to itch and it doesn’t look rough. Her doctor is treating her for yeast infection and has prescribed a mild cream. Is this common for babies to develop? Will the patches stay life long? What can be some other ways to take care of this problem.
June 11, 2013 at 10:39 am
Dear Barnali,
Yes candida (fungal/yeast) infection is very common at this area. Usually it is pinkish and wet intially and later on after treatment it becomes white. The white patch will take a long time to go,perhaps a few months, but certainly not remain life long.
To prevent this, keep the area dry. Apply a barrier cream after drying it. it is better not to apply powder.
You did not tell me whether it was pinkish and wet to start with, because if it was not then the diagnosis will be different.
June 10, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Hi Dr Rajrani
My nearly 2 year old has had sore patches on his cheeks for a few months now. I kept putting barrier cream on, thinking it was irriataion from the wind, saliva and tears. However the sun has made an appearance in the last few weeks and now he has a white mask like marking around his eyes. It looks like he has had a mask on and caught a little sun. I always use a high factor sun cream and h has never burnt. The pharmacist gave me some barrier cream which has helped, but I wonder if it is a fungal infection.
We leave by the sea and spend a lot of time on the sand, I had this on my chest and back last year which cleared with anti fungals (although the pigmentation is still evident). Could it be the same thing?
Thanks.
June 11, 2013 at 10:25 am
Dear Jennie
Yes, sore patches on cheeks could have been due to irritation. quite often when these heal up, then a white patch remains, which may take a long time to disappear.
The white mask like markings around the eyes could be due to the fact that these areas on the face got less tanned than the rest of the areas.these may remain through out the summer season.
fungal infections usually occur on areas which remain wet for a long time like folds of skin,axillae, groin, nails.
Definite diagnoses can only be made by seeing the child and if necessary by taking scrapping of the skin and doing a test on that.
if you can send me a picture of your child,perhaps i can help you further.
June 16, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Hello Dcotor Rajrani,
After going through your bolgs, I feel your inputs are very informative…
My 6 year old daughter has developed white small round patch (1 cm, not shiny and sharp)on lateral side of one eye very recently 10-15 days back. in cosultation to doctor , now we are applying moisturising cream.
Earlier one year back there were small white patches ( 2 to 3)oberverd upper chest area. After consulting Doctor , we had been applied atonide and vitex cream on affected area regularly . Now those patches are become dull but not compltely gone.
I am more worried beacause why these patches are infecting other area ? I am also afraid of vitiligo.
Just for your information , My daughetr is is suffering from alllergic cough / Asthma since past 3 years.
Such kind of white patch infection we never seen in our family ( in previous genreation as well)
June 16, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Hello Dcotor Rajrani,
After going through your bolgs, I feel your inputs are very informative…
My 6 year old daughter has developed white small round patch (1 cm, not shiny and sharp)on lateral side of one eye very recently 10-15 days back. in cosultation to doctor , now we are applying moisturising cream.
Earlier one year back there were small white patches ( 2 to 3)oberverd upper chest area. After consulting Doctor , we had been applied atonide and vitex cream on affected area regularly . Now those patches are become dull but not compltely gone.
I am more worried beacause why these patches are infecting other area ? I am also afraid of vitiligo.
Just for your information , My daughetr is is suffering from alllergic cough / Asthma since past 3 years.
Such kind of white patch infection we never seen in our family ( in previous genreation as well)
I am sure , you must have gone such cases.Kindly give your valuable inputs to take care of my daughter.
June 16, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Hello Doctor Rajrani,
After going through your bolgs, I feel your inputs are very informative…
My 6 year old daughter has developed white small round patch (1 cm, non shiny and sharp)on lateral side of one eye very recently 10-15 days back. in cosultation to doctor , now we are applying moisturising cream.
Earlier one year back there were small white patches ( 2 to 3)oberverd upper chest area. After consulting Doctor , we had been applied atonide and vitex cream on affected area regularly . Now those patches are become dull but not compltely gone.
I am more worried beacause why these patches are infecting other area ? I am also afraid of vitiligo.
Just for your information , My daughetr is is suffering from alllergic cough / Asthma since past 3 years.
Such kind of white patch infection we never seen in our family ( in previous genreation as well)
I am sure , you must have gone such cases.Kindly give your valuable inputs to take care of my daughter
If you want to see photo then pls let me know …..Thanks & Regards
June 28, 2013 at 6:14 pm
My daughter is now 9 months old.when she was 1 month old I noticed a lighter pigmented patch on her face.i didn’t worry about the patch thinking that it is some vitamin deficiency.my baby is on formula food.now the patch has spread and it is there on her both sides of the face, chin,below eyes and above eyebrows..she had cradle cap..but it was cured without any medication..also she had pimple likebumps oh her face and body. Dr.told it is dry skin and to apply moisturizer..now it has almost gone.last appointment I discussed about the white patches with the dr.he gave a cream miconazole nitrate 2% and hydrocortisone 1 % to apply for 5 days.we applied and there is no change and our next appointment is on 4 th July. I thought of asking you about these patches as I am really worried about my little girl. What do think these patches are? Can vitamin E or B12 deficiency cause it?
July 6, 2013 at 5:37 am
Dear doc
My son is now 8 months old. B4 one month he had a red coloured small patch near to his lips below the cheeks. It wil b der for somtyms and then change to normal or white in color.then again change to red. I didnt giv tat much importance and applief baby lotion. But after some days it increased in size and redness alsso increased. We consulted a doc and he suggrdted hydrocortisone cream which was already present wid me. I hav used cutisoft’s hydrocortisone acetate cream BP 1% w/w. He gave a vitamin D drops and an iron supplement,which i hav given for a month. Nowe the readness is gone but a white patch is der. I hav stopd using d cream and the drops b4 a week. But yesterday a small reddish white patch has been seen above his cheeks somewhat below his eyes. What is it and why is it caused? Should i continue d cream for both? We r planning to see d doctor again. Plz giv me a reply
Tc, bye
July 25, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Fantastic
July 26, 2013 at 11:05 am
Thank you. I am always pleased to know that parents find my blogs useful.
do also look up my book on childcare which you will find on http://www.easybabycare.net.
tc
August 1, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Hi Doctor,
My son is 2 yrs old and has been in the son alot this summer. About 2 months ago, a elongated dry patch , about the size of a quarter appeared on this right cheek. It stayed for a few weeks. Now, the patch is gone, but there is a white spot in its place. Is putting moisturizer on it enough or should I take him to his pediatrician?
Thanks.
August 2, 2013 at 9:34 am
Dear Masuma
Such white patches that you described are very common especially after beaning in the sun. These may take a long time to disappear, quite often months. these are benign patches and you do not need to worry about these.
for more information about care of children do look up my book on childcare which you will find on http://www.easybabycare.net.
tc
August 2, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Thanks !!!
August 9, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Hi Raj,
It has been officially a year now and my son patches has spread taken up one half of his face. The seem said its not vitiligo as the pigmentation is very white. My concern is that now m not sure what it is. He’s is healthy overall his skin tanned due to the summer in NY. The doctor said it is either mosaic or wants me to see a optho to look for incontenti pigmenti. All I know is I wasnt worried until now that I see the once a patch spread and take over almost half of his face. I’m so sick of the guesses these doctors are making. I need help 😦
August 11, 2013 at 10:06 am
I am sorry that I could not help you regarding your child’s problem.
Actually I am a Paediatrician and not a Dermatologist. The idea behind my website is to help parents, for minor problems which they encounter while looking after their children. For the problems, that I cannot solve on the website parents need consultation by professionals.
I know that you have consulted several dermatologists and you are very disappointed that why they cannot make a diagnosis.
It is important to realise the fact that although medical science has advanced quite a bit over the years, but still there is a large gap in our knowledge.
With most problems it is easy to make a diagnosis either clinically or with help of tests. However in certain cases it is difficult. When one encounters such a case, we have a list of several possibilities, what is known as differential diagnosis. One by one, one excludes these diagnoses, until one eventually knows the right diagnosis. At times diagnosis can only be made after some time, depending on what course the signs and symptoms take.
Since your child is well otherwise it is quite likely that what he is suffering from is not serious and eventually he will get better.
Tc
August 20, 2013 at 11:29 am
hi
My daughter was 5month old and she was having small white patches on the eye side and in forehead. I am affraid that it will speard or not. So please suggest it.
August 21, 2013 at 11:17 am
Dear Uma
White spots on baby’s face are usually benign, these may spread initially , but eventually disappear. How ever, rarely there could be other reasons like
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids
these may need treatment.
if in doubt consult a dermatologist or a pediatrician for proper diagnosis. if you are in Delhi you can contact me at this phone no. 9911101576.
do also look up my book on childcare at easybabycare.net for guidance on childcare.
Tc
September 24, 2013 at 6:21 pm
Hi my two year old has a white patch just under her eye. It came out as a red patch and eventually turned into a white patch merged into the skin. Just wanted to know what this is and how to prevent and help it?
September 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Dear Fatema
Such patches,are usually pityriasis alba, they do disappear but may take months or sometimes a year.there is no treatment for this,however these disappear on their own. However I can not make a definite diagnosis without seeing the patient or seeing a photo. if possible do send me a photo, or if you are in delhi you can contact me ph no 9111019576.
although these patches are not related to your child’s diet ,however it is necessary that you must take care that your child eats well balanced diet. you can get information about the diet from my book on childcare which you can download for free from my web site easybabycare.net.
tc
do let me know after few months whether the patch has disappeared or not.
August 22, 2013 at 1:41 pm
My grandson 30mnths old has white patches but loves his fruit and veggies,I use all the baby skin products but everybody tells me its melnutrition,he also speaks but still rumble some words and can’t talk properly yet,should I worry about this,from when does a child talk full sentences as some of our friends grandkids talk properly and they younger then him,my grandson is a only child and doesn’t have any nephews or nieces as well!thank you
August 23, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Dear Chemelle
White spots, as you would have realized from all the comments, made on this site, are very common in children. The reason is not known, probably due to the fact that some parts of skin gets less tanned than other parts.
The white spots are not due to malnutrition. If you look up the chapter on diet in my book easybabycare.net, you will get an idea as to what your child should eat. If he is eating well balanced diet and if his height and weight is normal for his age, then he is certainly not malnourished.
The time when a child should be speaking, is very variable. It depends on child’s personality as well the environment. If your grandchild can express himself well, understands you when you talk to him, he should soon learn to talk properly. You and other caregivers should talk with him as much as possible, then he will learn soon.
Tc
August 23, 2013 at 1:32 pm
my daughter (9years old) has a 1 white patch on her chin but its not rough..should i worry?
August 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Dear Angel
You perhaps can get an answer to your problem by reading all the comments that I have made on this blog. If you still have queries then you will have to contact a pediatrician or a dermatologist.
if you are in Delhi you can make an appointment with me by phoning at 9911101576 .
August 24, 2013 at 9:27 am
Sir, iam 19 years old. I had having lot of patches on face. I need to go to abroad next month. Will u please help me to get rid of this problem.
August 24, 2013 at 12:39 pm
I am sorry Jagath, it is not possible to treat condition like yours without seeing you. I suggest that you contact a dermatologist for this condition.
August 30, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Hi dr
My son developed white spots at 5 week old . They were group of small spots on his right cheek , gradually started appearing on left too now at 8 weeks they hve diffused into one big patch about 3 cms length wise both on left and right cheek .they r not raised or bumpy , he was out in the son at 6 weeks for about 5-10 mins .should i be concerned
September 2, 2013 at 10:37 am
Such spots are usually benign. They may be related to seborrheic dermatitis, or at times some parts of skin get more tanned than other. However there can be other reasons about which I have mentioned in reply to other comments on this blog. If these spots do not disappear in time you should consult a doctor.
tc
September 1, 2013 at 8:24 pm
I think you are a lovely doctor! Very patient. My son has developed a white patch below his lower lip, worried because i have a history of mild vitiligo. Hoping its not that.
September 2, 2013 at 10:44 am
Thank you Richa. I am glad that you find my website useful. I hope you have looked up my book on childcare which you can download free from my web site easybabycare.net.
About your son’s white patch, I think since there is family history of vitiligo, you should consult a dermatologist. Do let me know whatever diagnosis is made.
Tc
September 4, 2013 at 3:50 am
Hi I am 13 years old and have discovered a white light patch on my right cheek it has a strange very small red dot in the center. I am very self conscious and would like to be rid of it. It is a little scaly but it doesn’t shed. It looks like it will be there forever. I’m scared, I think it may be Pityriasis alba, I use a non-prescription moisturizer from bath and body works so it has a scent. Is it okay to use that or Jergens? Please help me I’m afraid it’ll continue all over my face and body.
Thank you,
Elianna
September 4, 2013 at 10:14 am
Dear Elianna
The small white patch that you have, is probably Pityriasis alba and since it is scaly it could be due to allergy. These kinds of spots do not remain permanently, they do disappear, sometimes in a few days, sometimes after few months. You can apply a mild hydrocortisone ointment, it may help. Also keep your hair dandruff free, and do not apply any hair oil. In case it spreads or you get several spots like these, you need to consult a dermatologist.
Moisturizers keep the skin moist, so you need these only if your skin is dry. It does not matter as to which one you apply. It is better to get a simple without any perfume from the pharmacy. It should be applied just after washing your face.
To have a good skin, firstly you need to eat well balanced diet, more of vegetables and fruits and less of fried items and sweats and chocolates. Secondly you should try not to expose your skin to sun and harsh wind. It is a good idea to use a sunscreen, however remember that with use of this you will be getting less of vitamin D, so in that case you should take vitamin D in medicinal form.
Do write to me again whether the white spot has disappeared or still present.
tc
September 8, 2013 at 1:06 am
Doctor
My daughter (6 yrs old) has white patch on her face, just next to her right eye. We showed to the doctor here in UK. Doctor advised us to apply a cream which is used to treat ring worm. We applied that for a long time, but the patch didn’t disappear. The patch is around 2 cm in diameter. Do you think this is something similar to what you described in your blog? The kids here do not get exposed to sun rays much, and I think all these skin problems are because of that. Is there something I should be doing for this white patch or just leave it assuming it will disappear in an year or so? Please inform. Thank you.
September 9, 2013 at 10:33 am
Dear Sita
Although it is difficult to diagnose without seeing a patient, however if you can send me a photo of your child’s face with the patch, I will attempt to make the diagnosis and give you the advice.
regards
Raj Rani
September 11, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Hello Dr. My daughter had small pimples on her upper right arm, they were not as red, they were bumby, my doctor advised me to apply aveeno for babies for eczema on that, When that healed it left white marks where ever she had those pimples. Please advise what that could be and how i can treat it.
September 14, 2013 at 11:23 am
Dear Tina
Your daughter probably had mild eczema which has now healed.It is quite common for white spots to remain in such areas for quite some time.These will certainly disappear but may take months to a year time. As they disappear by natural process, no treatment helps. If her skin is dry then just use a moisturizer.
Tc
September 15, 2013 at 9:56 am
My son is 2.5 years old and a very similar small patch like u have mentioned is there for nearly a month now
September 15, 2013 at 9:59 am
Forgot to add that its on his right cheek,only one such spot on the whole body without any pain. Pls advise
September 20, 2013 at 10:54 am
Dear snehashish
Such patches, especially on cheek are usually pityriasis alba, they do disappear but may take months or sometimes a year. However I can not make a definite diagnosis without seeing the patient or seeing a photo. if possible do send me a photo, or if you are in delhi you can contact me ph no 9111019576.
although these are not related to your child’s diet ,however it is necessary that you must take care that your child eats well balanced diet. you can get information about the diet from my book on childcare which you can download for free from my web site easybabycare.net.
tc
do let me know after few months whether the patch has disappeared or not.
September 26, 2013 at 9:54 pm
dr my 2 yr old baby is 10 kg and she refused to eat any type of fruits; egg; biscuits etc; she didnt get breast feeding for some reason. Pl advise me about her food and the same time she is very active@
September 30, 2013 at 11:00 am
Dear Ancy
Your child’s weight is ok for her age. However if you can let me know her length, I can give you a better idea as to what her weight should have been.( length can only be taken with an infantometer which most pediatricians keep in their clinics.
A child of this age should get 500ml of milk daily( no more than this and with a glass or sipper not with a bottle)). One or two fruits(a banana and orange juice is best for a child, other fruits like apple or pomegranate etc. are not necessary)). Eggs and biscuits are not a must, it does not matter if she does not take these.
Do look up my book on childcare at my website easybabycare.net. You can download this book for free. Do look up the chapter on diet. This will give you an idea as to what your child should eat.( Do give me a feed back after reading this chapter. This way I can make any improvements if necessary.)
At this age it does not matter if she did not get breast feeds.
tc
September 26, 2013 at 10:19 pm
I have white spots on my face they come and goes after 3 or4 weeks how to remove them permanently
September 30, 2013 at 10:37 am
Dear Vaishali
I am a child specialist, and I give advice about care of children on line. I do not give any treatment on line. you need to contact a dermatologist for treatment.
September 27, 2013 at 9:32 am
My Daughter is 6 month old.She has white spots around her eyes.I am very worry about this.Please help me to get rid from this problem.
September 30, 2013 at 10:33 am
Dear Parwez
Although most commonly white spots on children’s face are due to pityriasis alba but there are other causes also such as
Infection due to fungus
Vitiligo
Birth mark
After healing from any injury or inflammation.
White spots can also occur after eczema or other allergy skin condition has been treated with corticosteroids
It is difficult to make a diagnosis without seeing your child. If you are in Delhi you can contact me for an appointment at 9911101576. If not, do send me a photo I will try to diagnose or otherwise do contact a doctor and then let me know what diagnosis he\she has made and then I will try to help.
October 1, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Hi,
Its been over a year and my now 17 mth old still has hypopigmented mascules. The dermatologist used the woods l Iight lamp and confirmed it is not depigmented. There is also a small one on his leg. This spot spread on half his face. 😦 accompany by a hyperpigmented mascule. She recommended blood test for chromosones and thyroid. She said some kids have white spots due to chromosone disorders and incontenti pigmemti etc. I highly doubt he has this as he is developing very well. Im very scared. He is a beautiful now 17mth old boy
October 4, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Dear fancy
you can get these tests done if it is possible, no harm in getting tests done. However I also think that it is highly unlikely that your child has either of these diseases.
At times pityriasis alba take a very long time to disappear, at times more than a year, this will also disappear.
any way do let me know when it disappears.
my advice is to stop worrying, you have a beautiful child, do enjoy looking after him.
October 2, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Doctor Mam,
As advised by you,I am sending photograph of My daughter for easy visibility of white spots around her eyes and some spots on her face.
Kindly suggest me in this regard.
Parwez Ahamad 07500344441
________________________________
October 4, 2013 at 11:59 am
Dear Parwez
you said you have send the photograph but I have not received it. can you send it again
thanks
October 5, 2013 at 9:10 am
Dear Mam, Please find attached photograph of my daughter.Two photographs are attached for your kind reference. Parwez Ahamad 07500344441
October 6, 2013 at 10:55 am
Dear parwez
You said that you attached the photographs but I did not get them. Perhaps if you send them direct to my email address, I will get them.
My email address, rjrnmtr@gmail.com
Dr raj rani
Sent from my iPad
>
October 7, 2013 at 11:01 am
Yes I have seen the photograph.
Although one can not make definite diagnosis by seeing the photo, however it seems to me, that most probably your baby had some inflammation, perhaps mild allergy around the eyes which has healed and now the area has lost its pigment. These spots will disappear but may take quite sometime.
Seborrhea (dandruff) can cause such problems, so it is important to wash babies hair with shampoo on alternate days.
October 20, 2013 at 9:56 pm
Hello Doctor,
I took my daughter to dermatologist and she said she has lichen striatus on her arm, the recovery of hypopigmented skin can take up to 2 years. Is there anything I can do or apply on her arm which would speed up the recovery. As well on her cheek she had a eczema rash which is now healed and but the skin around that aea is lighter. Please advise what I can do to make my daughters condition better,
October 20, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Tina: just adding to my comment above the lighter skin on her cheek has been there for 5 months.
October 23, 2013 at 10:14 am
Dear Tina
The eczema on face as well as the lichen striatus on her arm are allergy condition. The white patches remain after the inflammation due to allergy, heals. These are white because the skin has lost its melanocytes, the cells responsible for color in skin. The only way the pigment will come back is when these particular skin cells are shed and new ones come. This is a natural process which can take months, and there is no method of expediting it, beside that if allergy occurs again which can, as it is very difficult to cure this, there will be further loss of melanocytes and in that case these white spots will take longer time to disappear.
As this is a benign condition, your child has no problem due to this , you should stop worrying about it.
October 23, 2013 at 1:00 am
Hello doctor,
My daughter is 3months old and has a few white, no particular shaped patches on her chin, fore head and cheeks. It’s white but no scaly. I am worried as she is only 3months and don’t want her to suffer from vitiligo. Dermatologist said to wait till 6months but I am getting impatient. What do you suggest? Again do you think it could be vitiligo? If yes what do I do? Please reply.
October 23, 2013 at 9:44 am
Dear Arpita
White patches on the face of 3 months old baby are very common especially if they have seborrheic dermatitis(dandruff). These are mostly benign and disappear in a few months. However sometimes these can take up till 1 year to disappear. Vitiligo is very uncommon, especially if there is no family history and it usually appear at later age. The latter are are shining and have well demarcated margins. I have posted pictures of these two conditions on this site. Do look these up and if the white patches on your face do not match the vitiligo pictures, then stop worrying.
November 3, 2013 at 12:58 pm
My 9 year old cousin has whitish patches on her face all less than 5 cm.scaly n not pearly white.initially i thought its pytriasis alba,bt dey disappear n reappear on other sites.
December 16, 2013 at 5:15 pm
dear doc
my daughter is 3.9 yr old and suddenly a circular white patch has developed on her cheek 4-5 days before. she was suffering from atopic dermitities when she was 4 months old. she recovered frm it after applying moisturizer. but this patch is too different from that rashes. Is there any connection between these two??? we apply emolene two times in a day on her body. i am too worried bcoz of these skin disorders.
December 22, 2013 at 11:27 am
The most common cause of white patches on children’s face is pityriasis alba. The cause of these are not known, however these always disappear, although it may take several months to a year for these to go. No treatment helps. you can of course keep on applying moisturizer as normal care of skin.
Although this is not atopic dermatitis, but these are more common among those who have a history of atopic dermatitis.
December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm
thanks for ur reply doctor
but one more similar spot has appeared near her lips, appearance is same but this one is less white in color. Another thing i noticed is these spots are more visible when light is less and in bright light u cannot even see them, skin looks very normal, i hope she will get out of this shortly.
January 19, 2014 at 7:39 pm
hi i’m reshma my 3 year old son has developed white patches on his neck and arms. initially doctors told me that it is due to bottle milk and will go by itself but i have noticed that it is spreading . i contacted a dermatologist who told me that is vitiligo. i am feeling scared i wish to point out that i have type 1 diabetes and used to have white patches on my face but for my son it is slightly more white but does not appear as vitiligo patches please help me i am confused the dermatologist has prescribed tacroz cream and dermovate cream can i have your views please
January 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Dear Reshma
I am sorry I can not help you very much because it is not possible to make a diagnosis without seeing the child. It could be pityriasis alba which is taking a long time to disappear or it could be early case of vitiligo.I feel that you can use the treatment that your dermatologist has given you. It will help in both the cases. Using it for short time will not have any side effects.
let me know the outcome after using this for about 10 days.
Tc
January 20, 2014 at 6:33 pm
hi,
reshma here thanks for your reply i will let you know but can you please clarify if a child of 3 years can have vitiligo . whteher vitiligo patches start in the face or can start anywhere in the body. i wish to point out that the patches have still brown pigmentation inside it. However can you please clarify if it is an early case of vitiligo can its propagation be stopped. thanks
February 5, 2014 at 11:34 am
Hello Doctor,
Its great to see you taking out time to write in such great and simple details, and to respond to the questions of the parents.
My son is almost 5, and three weeks back I saw a small white dry patch on his upper cheek (1cm). A week later I saw around two small dot on the opposite cheek. I took him to a dermatologist who said it is P.alba and prescribed Eumosone-M and a mosturizer. I have been applying the cream regularly, however I have noticed two more new and really small dots on his face. I am now planning to consult another dermatologist, but I don’t want to jump the gun!
I would like to know that does P.alba spread, as in, should we expect to see the number of spots and the size of spots to grow, or is it stagnant? His skin is over all dry and since the spots are so small it is difficult to define their boundaries or scaliness. Would you advice me to wait it out?
Thanks,
Richa
March 2, 2014 at 12:17 pm
hello my daughter is just 1month old ,after of 15day i show white paches on her lower cheek,and after 10days show white paches on arams.other than she is healthy by birth.so kindly advice me doctor.
March 2, 2014 at 3:13 pm
Dear Ravindra
as I have stated previously it is difficult to make a definite diagnosis without seeing the child, however most of these white spots are benign, there is no particular reason why these appear and they will disappear with time.
March 12, 2014 at 9:47 am
Hi Doctor,
My lil one is 5 months now. There are small white patches near her eyes below her eyebrows. My ped said its due to dryness and suggested a liquid paraffin calamine lotion(calimex). After applying it small pimple like has developed. Am very much worried about how to go on with this condition.
March 12, 2014 at 10:54 am
Dear Viji
As I have mentioned in my blog that these sort of spots are usually,benign. Sometimes these can be due to seborrheic dermatitis especially among babies.
The pimple could be reaction due to calamine lotion or liquid paraffin, or it could be due to infection which need to be treated with local antiseptic ointment like T-bact. I suggest that you should not apply anything except for the usual moisturizer that you usually use. Do use shampoo for the baby’s hair at least alternate days.These spots may take months to disappear. if it does not disappear then contact a dermatitis.
if you are in delhi you can come to my clinic in dwarka after phoning me at 9911101576.
March 23, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Hi Dr.Raj rani
Your article above was of great relief as I was quite tense about the same as I noticed it on my 7yr old daughter’s right cheek 2 days back. I had taken an appointment with a dermatologist for tomorrow but I guess I will wait now for a couple of weeks and hope it disappears by then. Your home remedies for my kids as infants back home in Jeddah have always been helpful. Keep up the great work. May God bless you with health and prosperity forever.
March 24, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Thank you for your good wishes.
The white spot may take longer than a couple of weeks to disappear, however if in doubt it is a good idea to consult a dermatologist. In case you consult a dermatologist, do let me know his/her opinion.
Tc
March 31, 2014 at 7:01 pm
My son is 7 and has been accumulating theses random rashes he scratches from time to time. After the rashes go away he’s left with another white spot. Since his skin is tan coloured it looks bad. Its been all year and still no sign of color yet. What do I do
April 1, 2014 at 9:44 am
Dear Jasmine
The color on the white spots will come back eventually, that is not the problem. The problem is why does he scratch? It could be allergy to insect bite, or some food he eats , or it could be scabies. You will have to find out the reason, cure that. Once he stops scratching, no other white spots will occur and eventually these will become normal.
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July 26, 2014 at 10:10 am
My child white spot near what cream use
July 28, 2014 at 12:01 pm
White spots can occur due to many reasons, therefore I am sorry I can not prescribe any cream without seeing the child.
August 28, 2014 at 11:45 pm
Hi, my daughter is 20 months old. Its been nearly 2-3 months that i have been noticing this lighter skin patch which is exactly not white but a lighter shade than her skin. It has been increasing. The doctor suggested we use dermadew but looks like it has not healed
. Pls suggest
rgds
Cheryl
August 29, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Dear Cheryl
These white patches are usually due to the fact that, part of skin is less tanned than rest of the skin. This is known as pityriasis alba. This takes its own time to go, sometime a year. No treatment helps.
At times there could be other reasons for white patches as I have mentioned in my blog. If your doctor suspects some other reason then he can refer your child to a dermatologist.
September 25, 2014 at 8:57 am
Hi Doctor, my son 55 days old initially got red rashes on his face. Later the red rashes turned into white patches and these white patches were completely bended on his skin and my son face looks shiny white and brown ( his skin tone) slightly mixed.
These white patch are now in his neck, hand folding and near his urinary bladder. Pediatrician whom I consulted asked me to put tedibar soap and atloga cream .But I could find no improvement rather it’s spreading and becoming more on body. I tried consulting another pediatrician and he said it is fungal infection and gave zole – f cream to apply. I tried applying once on my sons face and he started crying very badly when I applied, it irritated his skin badly. So stopped
I’m very much worried and in confusion what I should do further. Can u please guide me on the following problem.
September 25, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Dear Nirra
Your baby probably had some sort of infection, which has probably healed. Now his skin has turned white because of decrease of pigment which occurs due to infection.The pigment will take time to come back. This is a natural process so medication will not help.
Fungal infection occurs on moist areas, so to prevent this, you should dry skin of ypur baby softly, and then apply a cream like jhonson cream, or nappy rash cream over nappy area. Leave a thick layer so that the skin underneath is protected.
Do let me know if there are any other problems.
February 5, 2015 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for your valuable suggestion doctor. Now my son is alright, his white patches completely gone. I used Atogla cream regularly for past 4 months. I would like to know can we continue the cream or will it have any side effects if we use the cream after the rashes cured.
Is it good to use for my kid and how long that can be used?
Key ingredients of the cream :
GLA (from borage oil), aloe vers gel, ceramide (uniblend), vitamin E Acetate
Looking forward for your response
Thanks
September 30, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Sir a few white spot is occur in my child’s forehead some are circle and some are oval in shape and it happens last two weeks and his age is six year
Sir plz tell that what I can do for my child
October 2, 2014 at 12:20 pm
Dear Bivash
it is not possible to prescribe treatment without seeing a child, as diagnosis has to be made. You can read other comments and my replies on this topic, then may get an idea about the white spots.
regards
Raj Rani
October 23, 2014 at 12:20 pm
hi my daughter is 16 month old….i could see a white patch on her right cheek…her one nail has a small white patch too…is there anything to do for that..pls reply
thanks in advance
LIYA..
October 25, 2014 at 10:52 am
Dear Liya
As white patches can be due to many causes, it is not possible to treat this condition without seeing a patient. If you read all the replies that I have given for the white patches, you can get an idea as to what should you do about this.
regards
December 15, 2014 at 3:03 pm
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December 23, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Thank you Rajni,
My baby is 5 year old, she always having white spots in winter before reading your article I think it is due to vitamin deficiency. somebody says me apply coconut oil, is it ok?
December 23, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Thank you Rajrani,
My baby is 5 year old, she always having white spots in winter before reading your article I think it is due to vitamin deficiency. somebody says me apply coconut oil, is it ok?
December 24, 2014 at 10:39 am
Dear Roshini
I am pleased to know that you found my article useful. You can also look up the book i have written on child care. It is available free at site easybabycare.net.
As far as white spots are concerned, in most cases it is due to the fact that some areas of skin gets less tanned than the surounding skin. These spots are not due to vitamin deficiencies. If your child’s skin is dry, you need to keep it moist. You can do that by applying any oil or any moisterer,what ever you like. Apply it soon after you have washed her face, when the skin is slightly moist.
TC
March 31, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Hello doctor,
my daughter is 4 months old now. she is wheatish brown complexion. she has a small white patches near her eyes(in both the eyes) and it looks bit shiny which we have noticed 15 days after her birth. now its much visible. i think it is not so itchy because she is not itching it. at times she is itching. Its no where present in the body except in her eylids. we are much worried about it. god it should not be vitiligo. we went to 2 paediatricians and they told nothing to say now. we will wait for 3 more months and will see like that. but i am much worried. so please tell me what it could be?
I have a pic of that. if u want to see, how can i upload it?
which doctor should i see?
March 31, 2015 at 5:43 pm
You can send the picture to my email rjrnmtr@gmail.com
April 1, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Dear Sakthi
I have not received the photo.
However, vitiligo at this age is uncommon. Most common reasons for such white spots can be 1. birthmarks. at times birthmarks do not appear at birth but appear later on.2. these could be post inflammatory hypo pigment lesion. Inflamation in babies occur due to sebbhoerea or fungal infection, when this heals then these type of hupopigment areas can appear and these disappear in time. may take 6 months to a year to disappear.
April 19, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Sir
I have a baby girl about 14 months years old and recently I have noticed a small light color spot on her left side cheek. is it to be worried about kindly help me.
thanks
April 20, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Dear Sunil
These type of spots are usually ptyriasis alba. Nothing to worry about. They usually disappear but may take months to go.
June 29, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Hi Dr. My baby is 11 months old. Couple of months back there was a white spot on his neck . later he started getting white patches between his eye and nose, symmetrically , touching eye part. We thought its because of dryness because he cries a lot we thought may be its caused of tears. But these started growing and looked very dry. Then saw one one very small and pale white spot near his both eyes ,again symmetrical located. Neck spot grew and had some white lines. That time we visited paed doctor who told its fungus, gave ointments and oral medicines also. That time temperature was very hot in summers. After applying antifungal cream, neck spot scales went away but spot was there.. There was no effect on eyes spots
Then he got atleast 10 spots in one two days over his top chest going upto back . Now we showed to skin specialist who told eye spots to be allergy due to head,which I didn’t understand (he saw by magnifying glass). I asked him twice if its not lecoderma he said no it’s common allergy and gave antibiotic ointment for eye spots and for rest antifungal. I applied all that.. Sometimes it felt eye spot is matching skin color, but not sure.
After that I had to travel to another place , where i showed to one paed , who couldn’t see the spots clearly and told its very light, no need to worry.
Then showed to new skin specialist , who told she can’t see any scales and told why we didn’t visit her earlier. Now she can’t spot the problem ,as either its healed or of it was like that since beggining then it may be lecoderma also. I told we were not in city and showed her all old photos. Looking at neck she told it looks like psoriasis due to scaling. And she looked with maginier all around.she could see scales on chest but no where else. She gave pacroma. I am applying that for two three weeks now. Eye color seems to begin matching other area. Neck color also seem to match. Chest color seems same. I couldn’t apply this judicially because kid is small and moves and cries when we hold him steady. But today I saw few more very tiny and pale spots on his eyebrow area. At present they are very faint. I am distressed firstly because no doctor is able to diagnose him properly and just changing medicines.secondly this is spreading and I am worried if this is vitiligo/leocoderma. I have read numerous articles/blogs online ,seen pictures etc. It matches either pysteris alba or vitiligo but if doctors are not able to identify them how can I. Found your posts and replies very informative and looking forward to getting a good opinion from you doctor on this. Thanks in advance.
June 30, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Dear Richa
White spots on babies face are very common.these could be due to seboharric dermatitis, or baby might have mild alleric inflamation which has healed but the area remained depigmented.at times some areas of skin get less sunlight so these remain whiteish. Vitiligo\leucoderma is not common and is very white and shining, and does not disappear on its own.
I would suggest that you should stop worrying. Keep babies skin and hair clean, shampoo daily or alternate day.do not apply oil on head and face. These spots can take months to go.
If you are in Delhi you can contact me on 9911101576.
Tc
June 30, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Thanks doctor for your reply. But yesterday I saw several tiny faint white spots on his face. As they are very small we need to carefully see from close distance to notice them as of now. Also saw new faint spots on chest which are more visible as his chest is darker than face skin. And old chest spots are same as before,no improvement. I am not able to understand why new spots are appearing. Also on pacroma it’s mentioned that it’s not suitable for kids under 2yr,still skin doc gave that.and I carefully apply when he sleeps on face but not able to apply much on chest spots. All his spots are more prominent in natural light than artificial light. Moreover I read pacroma is for vitiligo treatment. My baby also had umbilical hernia until 3 months. And bad colic gas till 4 months. I don’t know if all these are related. I’ll surely call you when I visit Delhi, but that may happen not before 6 months 😦 baby doesn’t have dandruff but I have a lot dandruff. Also earlier his eye lashes had dry white stuff but the other spots on face have been skin like,no visible dryness or scales. Doctor ,I read pacroma to be for vitiligo treatment . is that true? And can vitiligo/leocoderma spots also get skin mixed with pacroma? I am distressed due to second skin doctor who told she can’t see any scales and these may be lecoderma spots. Secondly these are appearing at different places. In his skin folds in neck and leg also, he has whiteness like skin loosing pigment in forms of fine fine lines. Under his eyes also there is one fine white line. Doctor please advice do these all skin conditions seem related?
September 26, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Hi doctor, my sons eye spots disappeared now but last month we saw one complete white hair in his head. His chest spots ( light pigmented) are still there. When I told his paedtric she told not to worry and just give zincovit. I also went to homeopathic doctor later. I also feel he’s getting one white eye lash although it’s too small so sometimes seems like skin covering hair and sometimes white hair. I’ll keep a watch on it . 90% its hair only.. Is he having vitiligo? Can I share his pics with you?
June 30, 2015 at 12:59 pm
My son is 5 and 1/2 month old.I noticed white patched to his both eye corner from the begining. I am very worried. Please suggest.
June 30, 2015 at 4:47 pm
If the white spots were present when your baby was born, these could be birth marks however if these appeared later on then there could be other reasons.
October 22, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Hi doctor
I am worried about my son who is 7 yrs and 7 months old, now it has been around 5 months that white patches had appeared on his cheek, firstly it had appeared on his forehead now it had spread on both the cheeks. He is quite tall and heavy compared with his same age children.Is it something serious?i need your advice.
Thanks
October 23, 2015 at 11:08 am
Dear Kinga
White patches have no connection with a child being tall and heavy.
It is difficult for me to tell you definitely as to the cause of white patches without seeing the child but however as I have previously stated in my blogs that white patches are most commonly pityriasis alba which is sometimes due to dandruff in hair.
July 11, 2016 at 9:23 am
Hello doc,
My baby is 5 months old..she had reddish sweat rashes around her neck (both front and back).The doc suggested flutivate for a week twice a day.i Hav used it for a week now.the rashes have disappeared leaving white spots behind.will the White spots go??im worried.😞😞And Wen in stop flutivate,the rashes r slowly coming up if not much lyk before,they r showing up after a day or two after stopping flutivate ointment.😞
July 13, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Dear Mansis
The red rashes around your baby’s neck could be due to fungal infection due to candida organism. These organisms grow easily in wet areas, so try to keep the area absolute dry. flutivate is a local steroid preparation, it will reduce the inflammation but not kill the organism. Try using candid ointment over the red areas, 3 to 4 times a day for 10 days.
Also always iron your baby’s clothes so that the clothes are sterilized.
As far as the white spots are concerned, these are post inflammatory. the melanin pigment gets destroyed due to inflammation. however not to worry about this as after a few weeks or months this area will regain its normal color.