Differential Diagnosis for White Spots on Face
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypopigmentation due to Pityriasis Versicolor: This condition is a common fungal infection that causes discolored patches on the skin, often on the face, and is more noticeable in individuals with darker skin tones. The patches can be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Vitiligo: An autoimmune condition that leads to the loss of pigment-producing cells in the skin, resulting in white patches. It can appear anywhere on the body, including the face.
- Melasma: A condition characterized by patches of discoloration, typically on the face, often due to hormonal changes or sun exposure. While it usually presents as hyperpigmentation, in some cases, it can appear as hypopigmentation.
- Post-Inflammatory Hypopigmentation: This occurs after skin inflammation, such as from acne, eczema, or injury, leading to areas of lighter skin.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Leprosy (Hansen's Disease): A chronic bacterial infection that can cause skin lesions, including hypopigmented patches, and is crucial to diagnose early due to its potential for nerve damage and other complications.
- Tuberous Sclerosis: A genetic disorder that can cause white patches on the skin (ash-leaf spots), among other symptoms, and is important to identify due to its systemic implications.
Rare Diagnoses
- Piebaldism: A rare genetic condition characterized by the absence of melanocytes in affected areas of skin and hair, leading to white patches and often hair loss in these areas.
- Waardenburg Syndrome: A genetic disorder that can cause patches of hypopigmentation, among other symptoms like hearing loss and eye abnormalities.
- Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis: A condition of unknown cause, characterized by small, discrete, hypopigmented macules, typically on the extremities but can appear on the face, more common in older adults.