What Are These White Spots on My Skin?

Is it the air? The water? Is it New Jersey? Slowly I have been noticing clusters of white spots appear on my upper arms and on my upper back. Sometimes it seems they are moving across my skin. They don't hurt, itch or irritate me, but they don't tan either. In fact the tanner I get, the more noticeable they are. I asked my friends about these weird spots, and they had them also! One friend had white spots and blotches scattered across his back. Another friend has spots on her neck, back and shoulders. What are they? Should we be worried? Personally, if I'm not dying, I am not going to the doctor. Instead took it upon myself to do some research.

Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a common condition that affects 1-2% of people worldwide. It is usually visible as a patch of white skin without pigment. The cells that would normally produce the skin's pigment are destroyed by the vitiligo. There is no known cause of vitiligo, but it is more common with people who have certain autoimmune diseases. The autoimmune diseases are: hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), adrenocortical insufficiency (when the adrenal gland does not produce enough of the hormone cortiscosteroid), alopecia areata (patches of baldness), and pernicious anemia (a failure to absorb vitamin B12 which is caused by a low level of red blood cells). Vitiligo is also common within families, although not completely hereditary. A doctor may diagnose vitiligo by researching one's family history, taking blood tests, and taking a small sample of the skin.

Tinea Versicolor
This fungus infection of the skin commonly affects young people and is visible on the chest, back, upper arms, and legs. The fungus produces spots which are either lighter than the skin surrounding it, or a reddish brown color. The fungus may become more visible because of high humidity and immune or hormone abnormalities. I guess "high humidity" is where New Jersey fits in. Tinea Versicolor is very common and is not contagious. It can be treated using anti fungal agents, shampoo, or pills prescribed by a doctor. Over the counter anti fungal medications include clotrimazole and miconazole, which should be applied twice a day for 10-15 days. Unfortunately these anti fungal remedies often come in small tubes and are hard to apply to large areas. An easier, more common treatment is shampoo containing selenium sulfide. Selsun Blue contains 1%. I checked out the store brands, and they contained a bit more. These should be applied to the scalp and also the skin. The easiest solution is obviously prescription medication provided by your doctor. Unfortunately some of us still survive without medical insurance.

I tried the shampoo technique and they seem to have cleared up a little bit, but not completely. After finding out my white spots are not harmful or anything to worry about, I have become complacent. We shall see what happens this summer. Good thing they are on my back! At least I don't have to look at them.