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What Do Light Colored Skin Patches On Thigh Indicate?
Question: My 5 yrs old daughter has lighter colored patches on the back of her thighs. They are lighter in the center and they fade into the skin around the edges. We visit the swimming pool often and we all have darker skin complexion. I am concerned whether she has vitiligo or pityriasis XXXXXXX What's the best way to tell one from the other.
Brief Answer:
More likely to be pityriasis XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query at HealthCareMagic. I have gone through the image provided by you. Before I try to answer your question, I would have to enquire about the onset. When do you think that the patches arose and what has been the nature in course of time? I would also like to know if there is an altered sensation or itchiness involved over the area.
You have mentioned two important causes of hypopigmentation - vitiligo or pityriasis XXXXXXX Vitiligo is a relatively rarer autoimmune disease characterized by patchy loss of skin color that occurs when skin cells that produce melanin die or stop production for no known reason. Pityriasis XXXXXXX on the other hand is a condition most commonly affects children and is characterized by colorless, scaly skin patches caused by an infection by a certain fungus. Let me mention that it could also be tinea versicolor, another condition caused by fungal (yeast) infection and characterized by scaly, itchy patches of lighter or pinkish skin. Lastly, if the sensation over the area is reduced, we would have to consider leprosy too.
According to me, it is more likely to be pityriasis XXXXXXX or tinea versicolor but I would need more details to be able to tell better. The rash in vitiligo is distinct from that of pityriasis XXXXXXX where the border of the rash of vitiligo is not that discrete and often the exact line between the normal and light skin cannot be made out. However, let me mention that it has been shown that pityriasis XXXXXXX might change into vitiligo by following findings: close association between pityriasis XXXXXXX and vitiligo, high positive family history of vitiligo among patients with pityriasis XXXXXXX high percentage of pityriasis XXXXXXX progressed to vitiligo. That does not mean that you need to worry.
Visiting the following link might help: http://medicalcontent.hubpages.com/hub/Pityriasis-Alba . Hope, I have been able to clarify your cause of concern. Feel free to communicate with additional details and I would try to help you further.
Regards,
More likely to be pityriasis XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query at HealthCareMagic. I have gone through the image provided by you. Before I try to answer your question, I would have to enquire about the onset. When do you think that the patches arose and what has been the nature in course of time? I would also like to know if there is an altered sensation or itchiness involved over the area.
You have mentioned two important causes of hypopigmentation - vitiligo or pityriasis XXXXXXX Vitiligo is a relatively rarer autoimmune disease characterized by patchy loss of skin color that occurs when skin cells that produce melanin die or stop production for no known reason. Pityriasis XXXXXXX on the other hand is a condition most commonly affects children and is characterized by colorless, scaly skin patches caused by an infection by a certain fungus. Let me mention that it could also be tinea versicolor, another condition caused by fungal (yeast) infection and characterized by scaly, itchy patches of lighter or pinkish skin. Lastly, if the sensation over the area is reduced, we would have to consider leprosy too.
According to me, it is more likely to be pityriasis XXXXXXX or tinea versicolor but I would need more details to be able to tell better. The rash in vitiligo is distinct from that of pityriasis XXXXXXX where the border of the rash of vitiligo is not that discrete and often the exact line between the normal and light skin cannot be made out. However, let me mention that it has been shown that pityriasis XXXXXXX might change into vitiligo by following findings: close association between pityriasis XXXXXXX and vitiligo, high positive family history of vitiligo among patients with pityriasis XXXXXXX high percentage of pityriasis XXXXXXX progressed to vitiligo. That does not mean that you need to worry.
Visiting the following link might help: http://medicalcontent.hubpages.com/hub/Pityriasis-Alba . Hope, I have been able to clarify your cause of concern. Feel free to communicate with additional details and I would try to help you further.
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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