What causes white spots on the face?

White spots on the face are most often due to a harmless cause. The cause cannot always be told from the way it looks, and some need treatment.

Common causes are:

• Pale patches from dryness. These are seen on the cheeks, especially in children. The edge is not clear and the patch is slightly flaky. It becomes more noticeable after sun.
• Fungal infection. In hot, humid weather it causes small, slightly flaky pale patches on the chest and back, and sometimes on the neck and face.
• Loss of colour after inflammation. After eczema or spots have healed, the skin can stay pale for a while.
• Vitiligo. The loss of pigment cells produces bright white patches with a sharp edge. It is not contagious.

At the consultation, the doctor looks at how the patches are spread and at their edges and, if needed, examines them under an ultraviolet light called a Wood’s lamp. If a fungus is suspected, a sample can be taken from the patch.

Putting cream or lemon on a white patch at home can make the diagnosis harder. No product should be tried until the cause is known.