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How Should Facial Patches Be Treated?
well hi.... i m from kashmir and im 21 plus....before some months ago i got one white patch on my left side of face n its near my chin..... i went 2 doctor, he gave me medicines but itz of no use now i m hving them from 3 months but the patch is there only.... plz tell me what should i do.
posted on
Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
Answered on
Tue, 31 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
A white patch on face could be either of Pityriasis alba which is actually due to post-inflammatory hypopigmentation Or it could be a patch of Vitiligo which is due to complete absence of melanin.
They can be easily distinguished clinically.
Pityriasis alba is more common in dry skin. It presents as faintly white, ill-defined, asymptomatic hypopigmented patches, commonly on face.
Vitiligo on the other hand is completely de-pigmented i.e devoid of melanin and is milky-white in color.
If I was the treating doctor I would have suggested you to use a topical immunomodulator e.g tacrolimus ointment, twice daily. It should be rubbed in gently.
It is a prescription drug and therefore I suggest that you talk to your doctor for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as for the needful.
Tacrolimus is first line treatment for patches of vitiligo as well as Pityriasis alba.
Regards
A white patch on face could be either of Pityriasis alba which is actually due to post-inflammatory hypopigmentation Or it could be a patch of Vitiligo which is due to complete absence of melanin.
They can be easily distinguished clinically.
Pityriasis alba is more common in dry skin. It presents as faintly white, ill-defined, asymptomatic hypopigmented patches, commonly on face.
Vitiligo on the other hand is completely de-pigmented i.e devoid of melanin and is milky-white in color.
If I was the treating doctor I would have suggested you to use a topical immunomodulator e.g tacrolimus ointment, twice daily. It should be rubbed in gently.
It is a prescription drug and therefore I suggest that you talk to your doctor for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as for the needful.
Tacrolimus is first line treatment for patches of vitiligo as well as Pityriasis alba.
Regards
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