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Posted on: 04/03/2007
Question
I'm 20 and from Russia. Last year when I first came to the U.S. i got a pretty good tan, but when my tan started to leave there were pale spots on my upper arms. The spots seem to be slowly growing in area. New spots appear occasionally and are preceded by tiny reddish bumps in a circle. The circle turns dry (not itchy) and then a little pale (stays that way). Any pre-dermatologist help??
Answer
There are several conditions which can cause white spots. The most common is tinea versicolor, which is a harmless skin infection. The second is post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, which is a discoloration that can remain after inflammation of the skin. Eczema, fungal rashes, and various inflammatory conditions can also cause pale areas. So, that's as far as you can get with a pre-dermatologist help, and the next step is to have a dermatologist look at it.