White Spots on Face Causes: Dry Patches, Pictures, Remedy

Experiencing white spots on face? White patches on face is one of the reasons for dry or scaly skin. Get insight on the causes, signs, treatment and home remedies.

White Spots on Face Causes

White spot or patches may appear on your face. They can take various shapes and sizes depending on their causal agent. Usually, they can be small, tiny, little, or few. Occasionally, white spots can be large or big in sizes. Furthermore, white spots on face can be either flat or raised like bumps.

Generally, the development of spots on your face is a clear indication that there is a health problem on your body. Some white dots on face might be a sign of serious health condition.

Having benign spots on your skin does not mean you are on safe side. Harmless white spots on face can hurt you indirectly when they affect your beauty. For instance, when your face starts developing strange signs of white dots or patches that you cannot sustain, it can make you feel a discomfort that might even psychologically lower your self-esteem.
White spots on skin are attributed to be caused by various reasons or factors. Usually, these reasons can determine the type of white spots that may appear on your face. Importantly, being conversant with these causal agents can help you to prevent and get rid of them.
The following are the main causes:

  1. Milia

White spots on your face might be the consequence of having milia attack.  The condition of having milia on the skin is characterized by small or tiny white pimples like bumps called milium cysts. Usually, this condition affects the skin of the nose, cheeks, and forehead and under eyes. Milium cyst often appears in clusters at the same point on the skin.
Probably, milia originate from keratin deposits beneath the skin surface. Keratin is a type of protein that forms part of the outer layer of your skin. When these keratin proteins are entrapped under the skin, they may result in raised white spots on face.
However, milium cysts can also develop on your skin due to other cause like the sun burns and oil make-ups. Some cosmetic practices can also encourage milia to develop on your skin. For instance, skin resurfaces procedures that can clog pores on skin leading to keratin deposit.
Milium cyst is a common condition that often occurs on the face of newborns. White dots on face of a child might be milium cysts that can be called baby acne. The baby face is more susceptible to milia attack compared to adults. This is because the skin of infants and toddlers can develop milium cysts that appear as milky spots due to the high rate of deposition of dead skin cell underneath the skin surface.
Likewise to adults, milia can also appear on the skin patches. Also, teens cannot escape milia on their face. However, adults and teens are rarely affected by milia on their face although anybody can be affected by milium cyst.
Generally, milium cysts on the skin are usually harmless condition that cannot develop into a serious health problem. Usually, milia take few months to resolve on its own without medical treatment. For your interest, you can speed the removal of milium cyst on your skin by going for milia removal creams that are available in your nearby chemist.
Alternatively, milium cysts can be removed by exfoliating your skin with skin lightening creams. Wisely, you can prevent milia cysts and escape white spots on face.
Tips to prevent milia spots:

  • Keep your skin clean and moisturized
  • Limit the use of oil make-ups on your face
  • Avoid direct exposure to sunlight
  • Take a balanced diet rich in vitamin
  1. Tinea versicolor

Tinea versicolor is a skin condition that can result in the formation of white spots on skin. This condition is characterized by white, pink, red or brown spots on the skin depending on your skin tone. Usually, Tinea versicolor can result to dry or leathery bumpy skin with white patches.

Basically, Tinea versicolor is a fungal or yeast infection that typically affects the surface of your skin. The over growth of yeast on your skin can result in the formation of white patches on face and other parts of the body.
This skin condition is quite common to individuals residing in hot and humid climatic conditions. The yeast on your skin can grow very fast during optimum hot and humid conditions. In addition, other risk conditions may also encourage yeast growth on your skin to cause white spots on face.
Other conditions that encourage yeast infection on the skin include:

  • Dirty and accumulated sweat on skin
  • Deposit of oil on skin surface
  • Oil makeups
  • Weakened body immune system
  • Hormone fluctuation in the body
  • Poor skin hygiene practices

Tinea versicolor can also cause spots on skin during pregnancy. Generally, the expectant women are more susceptible to skin problems like acne, stretch marks and white spots on the skin. However, anybody can be affected by yeast infection on the skin.
Tinea versicolor can damage your skin and entire beauty. Fortunately, the yeast infection can be controlled by antifungal medication. In case you notice any white spots on your face, consult your health provider for assistance.

  1. Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that results in loss of skin pigment called melanin. Usually, vitiligo is characterized by white patches in the affected area of the skin. You can get white spots on your legs, arms, face etc. if you have vitiligo. You can develop the condition when melanocytes cease to produce melanin. Melanocytes are a specialized cell that makes melanin that gives the skin its color. According to Mayo clinic, the death or malfunctioning of melanocytes on the skin can result to vitiligo.
More about vitiligo, the condition is harmless to your skin although it might affect your beauty by manifesting its white spots on face and other skin parts. Unfortunately, white spots on your skin can be bothersome to extent that, it can embarrass you and lower your self-esteem.

  1. Pityriasis Alba and eczema

Pityriasis is a skin condition that can result in white spots on skin on various body parts. Usually, this condition can result in the development of dry or scaly round patches on the skin. The patches might be pink, red or even white in color which appears on the face, neck, on upper arms, chest, and back.
Pityriasis is one of the types of eczema that causes spots on the skin. Scientifically, the main cause of these conditions is not clearly known but is associated with immune disorders.
Normally, the body defense mechanism only recognizes harmful pathogens that may enter into your body. For the case of eczema, the immune system can attack body cells hence the development of inflammation that may develop into white spots on face and other skin parts.

  1. Acne and whiteheads

Whiteheads is one of the characteristics of acnes on the skin. Whiteheads are small bumps that appear on the skin of the face specifically nose, on cheeks, around eyes, and on the forehead.
Whitehead can develop on your skin when skin debris, bacteria are clogged in skin pores to develop raised bumps.

Occasionally, oily skin can also encourage the development of this condition on the skin of the face.
Generally, acne on the skin develops due to high production of the oil on the skin surface. There are various factors that can result in the increase of oil production on the skin surface.
The increase of oil on the skin can be due to the following factors or developmental stages that include:

  • Adolescent stage that causes an increase in oil production of the skin hence pimples are common face problems that result to white patches on face.
  • Menstruation that causes hormone fluctuation in the body that can increase oil deposit on skin hence encourage the formation o9f whiteheads on face
  • Pregnancy can also result to increase in oil deposit on skin
  • Menopause also is characterized by an increase in oil deposit on the skin that can encourage whiteheads.
  1. Xanthelasma or cholesterol deposit

This disorder can be described as dyslipidemia. Cholesterol deposit on the skin of the face can result in white or yellow soft bumps on the face. Usually, xanthelasma is characterized by large soft raised spots around eyes, on nose and cheeks that appear like chicken skin.
Xanthelasma is attributed to be caused by the high amount of fats or lipid in the blood stream. Individuals with lipid disorders in the body have a lot of white spots on face.

  1. Sun Damage, UV rays, actinic keratosis and sun spots

Exposure to direct sunlight can damage your skin. Actinic keratosis is a skin condition that develops due to sun damage. Usually, sun damage can affect face, neck, shoulders, and scalp to develop a bumpy skin.
In addition, white spots on face from the sun are common to individuals who are exposed to direct sunlight. People with advanced age also show signs of actinic keratosis on their skin that appears like dry white patches on face.

  1. Skin cancer

Like actinic keratosis, skin cancer can develop on the skin of the face due to sunlight exposure. Skin cancer not only results in spots on face but also has pink, red and black spots. Skin cancer is a chronic condition that might advance into a serious health problem that can threaten your life.

White Patches on Face due to Vitamin Deficiency

White patches on the face might be the effect of vitamin deficiency in the body. According to food and nutrition in Web MD, intake of vitamins in the body system plays a critical role in cell metabolism. For instance, melanin is a type of protein that is produced by melanocytes that work effectively in presence of coenzymes that comprises a vitamin.
Generally, deficiency of vitamin has a consequence of white spot or patches on face. Skin pigment is produced with the help of vitamin C and B-9. Lack of this vitamin might result to white patches on face and other parts of the body.
Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid that helps in the formation of skin pigment. Deficiency of this vitamin can result in abnormal skin condition known as scurvy. The main signs of scurvy are abnormal pale skin with white patches on face.
Vitamin B-9 is also known as folic acid that helps in the formation of skin pigment. Deficiency of folic acid in the body can lead to loss of skin color hence white spots on face. In addition, folic acid also helps in energy metabolism. Lack of vitamin B-9 can result in chronic anemia that is characterized by pale skin with patches on the face and other parts of the body.
You can prevent the deficiency of vitamin in your body by eating different varieties of fruits and green vegetables. Alternatively, take vitamin supplements in your diet to enhance a soft smooth skin.

White Spots on Face from sun

You can develop white spots on your face due to sun damage. Sunlight can cause the formation of sun spots on the skin called Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. Sun spots are skin disorders that appear as flat white dots that range in diameter of 1mm to 10 mm.
In addition, sunlight also has harmful UV rays that can cause actinic keratosis and skin cancer. Sun damage usually results in skin conditions that are difficult to treat. For this reason, it is better to avoid direct sun light in order to escape white spots on face and other skin parts.

Dry white Patches on Face Causes

Usually, the skin has oil glands that contain sebum that help to keep our skin moist and supple. However, a decline of sebum on your skin might result to dry white patches on face and other parts of the body.
Although dry white patches on the face may be the consequence of dry weather conditions, poor skin care practices, and hormone fluctuation are also a concern.
Significantly, you should learn how to protect and keep you face moisturized so that to avoid the formation of the leathery skin or dry patches on your face.

White Patches on Face of Child

White spots, dots or patches can also affect the face of a child. There are various skin conditions that often occur on the baby skin. For instance, Pityriasis Alba is known to cause white spots on face of children. This condition can appear on your infant or toddler that makes their skin scaly with pale white patches on face.
Furthermore, Tinea versicolor is another common skin condition that might affect your child to develop white patches on face. This is a yeast infection that can usually cause the formation of dry white patches on the skin.
Moreover, deficiency of vitamins for your child can result to scurvy that causes white patches on face and entire skin part. It is important to provide a balanced diet for your child by giving necessary vitamins supplement to keep her/he in a good health condition.

White Spots on Face Treatment

White spots or patches on your face can be treated by different method basing on the type of skin condition. Occasionally, most spots on skin that develop from minor skin conditions can be treated by using home remedies. For example, milia and whiteheads on skin that cannot advance into serious health conditions hence you can use home remedies to treat such spots.
Unlike mild skin conditions, home remedies cannot be used in the treatment of serious skin conditions like skin cancer, vitiligo, and Tinea versicolor. In case white spots on face have persisted for more than three weeks, it is advisable to visit a dermatologist to help in treatment.
After visiting your doctor, physical examination will be done to find out the causal agent of white dots on your face. Skin sample can be taken from your face to be tested in the laboratory to determine the suspected health problem that affects your skin.
From the result, your doctor will develop a treatment plan for white patches or spots on your face. your doctor might use a different method to get rid of white spots on your face.
The common treatment methods that your doctor might use include:

  • Prescription of ointment creams that can help to remove white spots on your face
  • Laser treatment that use a beam of light to treat cancerous spots on skin
  • Chemical peel method that exfoliates the skin to remove semi-permanent white spots on skin
  • Surgical procedure by using sterilized sharp object like needles and scalpel to drain out hard cyst on your face

Home Remedies for Spots on Face

Alternatively, you can use the following home remedies to treat white spots on your face that develop from mild skin conditions.
These home remedies include:

  1. Apple cider vinegar

You can use apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for the treatment of white spots on your face. The reagent has a natural exfoliating ability that can help to get rid of milia spots and whiteheads.
How to use:

  • Get about half a glass apple cider vinegar
  • Use cotton ball to apply the reagent on the affected area of your face with white spots or patches
  • Allow it to stay on your skin for about 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water
  • Repeat the treatment three times per day until whites spots on face go away
  1. Castor oil

Castor oil can be used as a home remedy to treat white spots on face. This oil has medicinal properties that can help to reduce skin problems. In addition, castor oil has antimicrobial properties that can help to reduce yeast attack on your skin.
How to use it:

  • Apply the castor oil on the affected part of your face with white spots
  • Use your hand to spread and massage your face for few minutes
  • Repeat the treatment three times per day
  1. Garlic

Garlic has a chemical content and enzymes that can help to exfoliate your skin. The chemical content of garlic can help to reduce white spots on your face.
How to use:

  • Crush one clove of the garlic and add small amount of water
  • Apply the garlic extract on the affected area of your face
  • Allow it to stay on your face for about 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water
  • Repeat the same procedure twice per day until white spots on face fades away
  1. Aloe Vera

Naturally, Aloe Vera has medicinal value that can help to get rid of white patches on the face. The herb has antioxidant property and also contains vitamin C and E that can help to reduce milia spot and whiteheads on the face.
How to use:

  • Get Aloe Vera gel and apply it directly on the affected area of your face with white spots
  • Allow it to stay on your skin overnight
  • Repeat the treatment twice per day until white spots on your face fades away