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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Acne & Skin Concerns > White spots on face
Posted on: 08/21/2006
Question
Hello, I am 14 and I have white spots on my face. I was reading your FAQs and it says that it is pityriasis alba. I do go out in the sun a lot since I live in Miami Florida. And yes I read that it gets better with age, but what is the age that you think it will probably get better? Also, is it contagious because my cousin's doctor says that he caught it from me. So I don't know.
Answer
Pityrisis alba is not contagious, so either your cousin or your cousin's doctor gave you wrong information. It is most noticeable in people who are tan or dark-skinned. There is a genetic tendency to develop this, so you and your cousin probably have those genes in common. By age 14, it should start to fade. Of course, there is also the possibility that what you have is not pityriasis alba. If the spots are sharply outlined and bright white, it might be vitiligo, which does not go away unless it's treated. There are also a few much rarer skin disorders that can give you white spots, and these again need to be treated. Have a dermatologist look at your skin so you get a precise diagnosis. Good luck!