Please Help - white spots on skin, pigment loss

[datdude]

I am getting permanent pigment loss on my skin, it's white spots and white blotches, I'ts driving me crazy and I don't know what to do or how to stop it from getting worse. Has anyone had this happen to them and what can I do to stop this from getting worse. It's small white spots on my shoulders arms and chest and bigger blotches on my face. I read that maybe an auto immune disease could cause this.

[edfu]

This might be tinea versicolor, which is a skin fungus.  You can Google it.  It is not serious, and it is not permanent, but it may take a while to get rid of.  It's impossible to diagnose such skin conditions on the Internet, so you should see a dermatologist.   Good luck.   

http://www.medicinenet.com/tinea_versicolor/article.htm

[datdude]

I'm 99.9 percent sure what I'm getting is Vitiligo, If anyone has had or has this problem can you help me out on what I can do about it, can you get the pigment back in your skin or is this forever.

[nvhorseman]

Don't self diagnose. Go to a well respected dermatologist and find out for sure what you have. There are several ways to deal with this condition. Remember, it doesn't have to change your character or the hopefully good person you are, so don't let it. The less stress you put yourself under the better your treatment results. Be well and remember it could be worse...you could have had Kaposi's sarcoma or Psoriasis plaques.

[anniebc]

No-one can diagnose you over the internet, the only one going to help you is your GP or specialist..go and see them, it's the only way you will get a true diagnosis adn get the treatment you need.

Jan

[Shecky]

My advice - see a reputable dermatologist before starting treatment.  I am dealing with what sounds like the same condition.  I was treating it as a skin fungus, but that wasn’t working.  I went to a dermatologist who diagnosed it as Vitiligo.    Here’s the story on Vitiligo from my experience.

Vitiligo -  An autoimmune disorder unrelated to HIV, resulting in loss of pigmentation. The condition affects 2% of the population.  It is often hereditary. 

I’m using three different ointments for the condition.  1. Fluocinolone Acetonide Ointment USP, 0.025%  ($10.00 co-pay) (on face)  2. Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP, 0.1%  ($10.00 co-pay)  (on hands and forearms)  3.  Protopic (tacrolimus ointment) 0.03%   (about $44.00)
(on face, hands and forearms)

I apply these ointments twice a day, in the morning and at night.  The treatment is working but it takes months and the improvement is slow and incremental, so it’s easy to obsess about.  I’ve wanted to give up many times.  It’s been 2 months and the white spots aren’t so noticeable, but the change is very slow.  Since it’s greasy, I’m glad I started the fall, when it’s not so hot and humid.   The upside is, all the petroleum jelly (the base for all three ointments) is a good skin moisturizer.  Warning: Don’t put it on too thick.  It gets on your pillowcase – I’m using a cheaper pillowcase till I’m finished with the treatment.

Another alternative is laser treatments, twice a week for several weeks.