White smooth skin dandruff is characterized by the presence of white, well-defined spots. These changes are most common in the face and limbs, and are more common in children and young adults. What are the causes of white dandruff and how is it treated?
White dandruff( pityriasis alba ) is manifested by white, well-defined spots, mainly on the cheeks, hands and arms. Children, adolescents and young adults are primarily exposed to white dandruff - more often boys and men. It is known that its appearance is favored by atopic dermatitis - the occurrence of white dandruff is even one of the diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis. The cause of this disease is unknown, apart from AD, it may be caused by disturbances in melanin synthesis. Symptoms often appear or worsen after exposure to the sun or a visit to the solarium.
White Dandruff: Symptoms
Symptoms that may indicate white dandruff are:
- slight white skin lesions
- the changes occur mainly on the cheeks and hands
- the surface of the lesions is dry, smooth or slightly rough, slightly exfoliating
- you can observe small whitish lumps that are formed as a result of increased keratinization of the hair follicles
- pruritus is relatively rare
- changes turn red under the influence of UV rays
- changes fail to tan
White dandruff: diagnosis
The basic examination that is often sufficient to make a diagnosis is a physical and physical examination, plus seeing changes in the Wood's lamp. However, due to the fact that the symptoms of white dandruff can be confusingly similar to the symptoms of other skin diseases, it is often necessary to conduct additional tests in order to exclude them. In the course of such a differential diagnosis, vitiligo should be ruled out first, for which a biopsy is performed by collecting a fragment of the altered skin - when the amount of dye in the collected sample is clearly reduced (hypopigmentation), we are dealing with white dandruff, when there is no pigment at all (depigmentation) ) - we are dealing with vitiligo. skin biopsy on the altered site. Tinea versicolor also differentiates from other diseases such as:
- pityriasis
- chemical pseudo-albinism
- idiopathic hypomelanosis
- Waardenburg's team
- lichen sclerosus
White Dandruff: Treatment
In the case of white dandruff, it is recommended to use hypoallergenic cosmetics intended for patients with atopic dermatitis for daily care, and pharmacological agents should be decided by a doctor.
Exfoliating peels help to even out the skin tone - the doctor will decide which one will be the best for a given patient after examining the skin.
Antifungals containing salicylic acid, zinc iritonate, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, 1-methylnicotinamide chloride, or other imidazole derivatives are usually prescribed. Their concentration depends on the stage of the disease and is selected individually for each patient. Sometimes it may be necessary to use combination medications that contain a mixture of corticosteroids, antifungal substances and an antibiotic. It is not true that sunbathing with white dandruff helps and covers the lesions. Under the influence of UV promini, the skin becomes irritated, reddened, dry, itchy and flaky. Therefore, in the case of white dandruff, it is very important to avoid UV radiation. Sick people should always use cosmetics with strong filters before leaving the house.