White spots on legs

It is often possible to observe on the human body, this is especially noticeable on tanned legs, small white spots. There is a fear that this is something contagious. But in most cases, such epidermal defects do not pose a threat of infecting other people, although the infectious nature of such symptoms is not excluded.

Epidemiology

It is known that from 1% to 8% of the world's population suffer only from vitiligo. Adding to this number of people with other diagnoses, manifested by white spots on the body, one can imagine how many people are talking about.

Causes of the white spots on legs

The most common causes of white spots on the legs are distinguished:

• teardrop-shaped hypomelanosis - discolored spots on the human body in the form of drops up to 10 mm in diameter, which do not harm human health. This is most likely a cosmetic defect. In young people, these "marks" arise from excessive exposure to the sun or in a solarium, with age (after 30-40 years), the human skin undergoes photoaging, which also sometimes leads to a focal violation of its pigmentation; [1]
• vitiligo, leukopathy - dermatological diseases from the group of skin dyschromia, in which it loses its pigment in various areas of the body; [2]
• depigmented nevus - a congenital or acquired benign neoplasm with no pigment due to the destruction of melanin; [3]
• fungal diseases - certain types of lichen. [4]

Risk factors

It is believed that one of the risk factors for the appearance of white spots is a genetic predisposition. It has also been proven that ultraviolet rays and skin scrubbing accelerate the development of the disease. Gender also matters: women are more prone to similar skin defects, especially those with fair skin.

The impetus for vitiligo is often strong shocks, taking certain medications. Leukopathy is mainly caused by sexual infections, including syphilis. [5]

Pathogenesis

As you know, melanin is responsible for the intensity of skin color. It is a brown pigment found in melanocytes in the skin cells. It protects the epidermis from solar radiation by absorbing ultraviolet radiation. For the above reasons, there is either an accelerated destruction of it, or a lack of education.

Symptoms of the white spots on legs

Depending on the diagnosis, white spots come in various configurations and appear at different ages. So, the first signs of teardrop-shaped hypomelanosis mainly occur at 35-45 years old, but they can be detected even earlier in those who abuse ultraviolet radiation.

Localization of hypopigmentation first occurs on the flexion surface of the knee joints, which is not immediately detected. White spots are in the form of droplets and are not interconnected.

Gradually, they spread to other surfaces of the body: fingers and various parts of the legs, arms, less often on the trunk and almost never on the face. At the same time, there are no such unpleasant symptoms as itching, burning or soreness.

Vitiligo can manifest itself at a young and even childhood, while the spots are of different sizes and shapes, often merging into one single, devoid of pigment.

White spots on toenails

White spots on the toenails appear due to a violation of the keratinization of the nail plate, which has a layered structure. Air bubbles get between the layers, forming voids. This disease is called leukonychia. One of the rare varieties of pathology is the formation of spots only on the big toes.

The reason for this may lie in internal or external factors: lack of vitamins and minerals (occurs in people who are on a strict diet or suffering from anorexia), diseases of the digestive system, anemia, chronic renal and heart failure, stress, depression, with mechanical damage.

Red and white spots on legs

Multicolored or pityriasis versicolor can provoke slightly different spots on the legs. At first, the fungus, "eating away" the upper layer of the epidermis along with melanin, leaves a slightly reddish or brownish color, which gradually turns white. In this case, exfoliating scales resembling bran are formed. Such white spots on the legs itch and peel off, causing discomfort to a person.

White spots on legs during pregnancy

Often, pregnant women and women who have given birth complain that they have white spots on the skin of their legs, especially noticeable against the background of tanned skin. This happens due to stress, which in fact is childbirth, or hormonal fluctuations. Over time, after the end of breastfeeding, this disappears.

Hormonal changes can also cause the appearance of pityriasis versicolor.

White spot on a child's leg

White dry spots on the legs, while the skin is dry and scaly, may indicate white lichen. This disease most often affects children. For others, it is not dangerous, because. Not transmitted by contact. It is believed to be caused by the fungus Malassezia, which prevents ultraviolet rays from penetrating the skin.

Among other factors for the appearance of white spots on the leg in a child are the same as in adults: vitiligo, guttate hypomelanosis, pityriasis versicolor, leukoderma.

Complications and consequences

Of all the possible types of white spots, unpleasant complications come from lichen: without timely treatment, the area of their localization increases, which spoils the aesthetic appearance and causes a lot of inconvenience. In addition, with close contact, it can infect other people.

Diagnostics of the white spots on legs

Only a dermatologist can understand the causes of the appearance of white spots on the legs. In addition to external diagnostics, if lichen is suspected, a scale will be taken for analysis, sometimes a biopsy is performed.

From instrumental diagnostics, a Voodoo lamp is used, which emits black ultraviolet rays. Under it, discolored areas are considered.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of white spots on the legs is carried out between all possible diseases that cause these signs: vitiligo, guttate hypomelanosis, certain forms of lichen, leukoderma and some other diseases.

Treatment of the white spots on legs

Of all the diagnoses listed, some do not require or do not have treatments. So, with teardrop-shaped hypomelanosis, vitiligo can only slow down the spread of the process, but cannot be cured due to the uncertainty of the etiology. The spots that appear remain on the body until the end of life. With the rapid spread of the process of pigment loss, the doctor may prescribe oral immunosuppressants, corticosteroids.

Lichen require antifungal therapy both systemically and externally, sometimes for a long time.

There are many antifungal drugs that are used in case of lichen lesions: ketoconazole, clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole.

Fluconazole is an azole antifungal agent, used depending on the dosage form: capsules are swallowed whole, intravenously administered through droppers. With multi-colored lichen, the recommended dose is 300-400 mg once a week for one to three, or 50 mg daily for 2-4 weeks.

The drug can cause side effects such as nausea, headache, dizziness, tremor, insomnia or drowsiness, flatulence, dyspepsia, dry mouth. Contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to its components, as well as pregnant, lactating women. The interaction of fluconazole with other drugs must be studied according to the instructions for the drug, because. Their list is very long.

As an external agent, clotrimazole is used - an ointment or cream. On the discolored area, it is applied in a thin layer once or twice a day. Do not apply to children during gestation (especially in the first trimester) and feeding the child. May cause skin irritation, rash, swelling, allergic reaction, accompanied by urticaria, shortness of breath.

Exoderil - an antifungal cream, is applied to a clean surface of damage, capturing healthy areas 1 cm around, twice a day. After the disappearance of symptoms, it should be continued for another 2 weeks to avoid relapses. Not recommended for children, pregnant women, during lactation. Of the adverse reactions in single cases, local ones were observed in the form of itching, redness.

Hydrocortisone is a hormonal agent, white spots of hypomelanosis are smeared with ointment 2-3 times a day, in a course of 2-3 weeks. The drug is contraindicated in fungal, bacterial, viral skin lesions, open wounds, ulcers. It is not prescribed for children under 2 years of age, with caution to pregnant women and during breastfeeding. Ointment can cause local reactions: swelling, itching.

When white spots appear on the legs, vitamin therapy with vitamins A, C, E, D, PP, group B preparations is appropriate. In addition to ingestion, they resort to chipping foci of lack of pigmentation. Micro- and macroelemental therapy with copper sulfate, zinc, iron, and sulfur is also popular.

With vitiligo, physiotherapeutic procedures such as laser, PUVA therapy (irradiation with ultraviolet radiation, after using drugs that improve their perception), electrophoresis with 0.5-1% copper sulfate are used. This sometimes leads to the disappearance of skin defects, but not always.

The alternative treatment for white spots on the body is dominated by herbal medicine. The recipes use herbs that have the ability to strengthen the immune system, fight pathogens: echinacea, St. John's wort, marsh duckweed, yarrow, cudweed, calamus root. From the collections of these and other plants prepare infusions, decoctions and drink them for a long time.

The main goal of homeopathy is to stop the process of pigment distribution, strengthen the body's defenses, which ultimately leads to the restoration of melanocytes. Depending on the character, constitution, psycho-emotional state of a person, a homeopathic doctor may prescribe bromium, syphilinum. Often the composition of such homeopathic preparations includes potassium carbonate, silicic, nitric acid, phosphorus, sodium chloride and other components.

Surgical intervention is extremely rare and involves transplanting the epidermis or introducing melanocytes into the skin, which will later produce pigment.

Prevention

The risk of various skin defects on the legs, including white spots, can be reduced by limiting exposure to the sun, the use of protective cosmetics from ultraviolet radiation. Equally important is a nutritious balanced diet, which contains all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the functioning of the body.

It is also worth remembering that stress, hypothermia can shake the immune system, they should also be avoided.

Forecast

White spots on the legs do not pose an immediate threat to life, but the prognosis for their disappearance in most cases is unfavorable.