What Causes White Skin Beneath My Scrotum?

Posted on Sun, 30 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 30 Mar 2014 Answered on

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I have a small patch of white / pink skin beneath my scrotum that has white hair growing from it. It's only on one side, the other side has usual dark skin and dark hair. I've read a little on this forum and others that this could be lichen sclerosus. I'm not sure that this is the case and wanted to confirm symptoms. I have no dry skin and it's not bubbling up or cracking up. It doesn't itch in the white/pink area at all. I noticed some white hair vaguely approximately 2 weeks ago and thought (I'm 31) that this may just be matching that I have a few odd white head hairs too. However, the patch of hair becoming white has grown and the white /pink patch of skin seems to have stopped at about the size of 2in x 2in. Could you give me some initial advice that I can then see a doctor in person to ensure a cure. Thanks for your help, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Kalpana Pathak (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: it could be vitiligo Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to us. From the description provided it seems you could be having vitiligo. Vitiligo is characterised by loss of pigment cells from skin and sometimes from overlying hair. It is not lichen sclerosus et atrophicus or LSEA. LSEA is characterised by severely itchy atrophic shiny white patch. To treat vitiligo, you may use a steroid cream like fluticasone and tacrolimus ointment 0.1% twice in a day. It's good that the lesion is stable and not increasing in size but vitiligo patches with leucotrichia or white hair may respond slowly to treatment or may be refractory to treatment. Please meet your dermatologist for a proper evaluation and treatment. Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Kalpana Pathak (4 hours later)

I have read up a little on Vitiligo in the last few hours. It's not clear to me so can you help? Is Vitiligo something that MUST be treated? Or can it be lived with and there just be a bit of a white patch there. I'm not afraid to be treated but if I have naturally become a bit white, I'm curious to start using something unnatural unless this is an issue that NEEDS treating for a specific reason besides dis-colouration. Many thanks for clarifying for me.

Answered by Dr. Kalpana Pathak (20 hours later)

Brief Answer: you may avoid treatment Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for writing back. Vitiligo is a skin condition that is simply characterised by depigmentation. It has no relation with one's health. People seek treatment for the same due to cosmetic or aesthetic reasons. Even if its spreading and generalised, one may prefer not to undergo any treatment as it would not affect one's health in anyway. As the lesion is stable and is present in a covered area, you may avoid treating the same. Its completely a personal choice. Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar