Nonetheless, watch out, everyone!
White spots lookalike
These spots can be tricky. How? Because they have doppelgangers!
Often, they are mistaken for signs of calcium or Vitamin B12 deficiency. But they could have several other causes as well.
Dr Gulrez Tyebkhan, consultant dermatologist, Saifee Hospital, explains, “While sun exposure causes white spots, these could be related to an allergy, idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH), atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, or a fungal infection.” Nutritional deficiencies are rarely a direct cause and usually show up with other symptoms too.
Specifically for Indian skin, the tropical climate makes certain conditions more common. With higher levels of sweating, fungal infections tend to increase. “At the same time, allergic conditions are rising in both children and adults, so atopy-related white spots are also becoming more frequent,” Dr Tyebkhan notes.
It’s important to remember that not all white spots are the same. Each case may have a different underlying cause, and only a specialist can identify the exact reason. With the right diagnosis and treatment, many of these spots can improve.
Treatment and prevention
So, if the sun causes these white spots, is sunscreen the ultimate hack?
