White Patches on Face: Pityriasis Alba, Versicolor or Vitiligo?
Most white patches on the face in India are pityriasis alba or tinea versicolor, not vitiligo. Here is how they differ, what helps, and when to get checked.
Condition guide
White patches: tinea versicolor and pityriasis alba
Also known as Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea versicolor, Pityriasis alba, White patches on the face, Light patches.
In short
Most light or white patches on the face and body in India are not vitiligo. Pale, slightly dry, poorly defined patches on a child's cheeks are usually pityriasis alba, while pale or brownish patches with fine scale on the chest, back and neck of young adults are usually tinea versicolor, a common overgrowth of a skin yeast. A dermatologist can tell these apart from vitiligo, which causes milk white, sharply defined patches without scale.
Typical signs
- Pale, slightly dry patches with soft edges on a child's cheeks
- Pale, pink or brownish patches with fine scale on the chest, back, neck or upper arms
- Patches that look more obvious after sun exposure or in summer
- Mild itching or none at all
When to see a dermatologist
- A patch is milk white, sharply defined or spreading
- Patches appear around the eyes, lips, fingers or genitals
- There is white hair growing within a patch
- A patch feels numb or less sensitive than the skin around it
- Pale patches keep returning every summer despite treatment
- You are not sure what the patch is, or a child has many patches
Signs vary from person to person and several skin conditions look alike. Only an examination can confirm a diagnosis.
Read the guides
Full, referenced articles on white patches: tinea versicolor and pityriasis alba written for Indian skin, with answers to common questions.
Vitiligo: Causes, Treatment and Common Myths in India
Vitiligo is an autoimmune loss of skin pigment. It is not contagious and not caused by eating fish with milk. Treatment can restore colour in many people.
Worried about white patches: tinea versicolor and pityriasis alba?
Book an online consultation with Dr. Maria Ansari for an assessment and a written care plan made for you.
This page is a short summary for general education and does not replace a consultation with a qualified dermatologist. Do not start, stop or change any medicine based on this page. Read the full medical disclaimer.