Pityriasis alba on the face: home care

Pityriasis alba commonly appears as pale, round or irregular patches with fine surface scale, often on the cheeks or around the mouth. The colour difference can look stronger after surrounding skin tans. Mild itch or dryness may occur, but the patches are not typically painful. Several causes of facial light patches look alike, including pigment loss and infection, so a new or unusual area should not be labelled from a photo alone. A clinician can assess the border, scale, distribution, and the rest of the skin.

Wash with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser, then pat dry rather than rubbing. Apply a plain moisturiser while the skin is slightly damp and repeat when it feels tight. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed facial skin; this helps prevent tanning around the patches and reduces contrast. Avoid scrubs, bleaching products, essential oils, and fragranced creams, which can irritate sensitive skin. An emollient may be useful for persistent dryness. Do not apply a topical corticosteroid to a child’s face unless a clinician has advised the product, strength, and duration. You can read about White Patches On Skin and Emollient Therapy.

Arrange a medical review if patches spread quickly, become sharply white, develop a raised or marked border, ooze, crust, or cause significant itch. Seek care sooner when the eyes or lips are involved, the diagnosis is uncertain, or a child is distressed by the appearance. A clinician can check for other causes and decide whether treatment is needed.

Does the surface scale fit pityriasis alba? Which moisturiser is suitable for this face? Should sunscreen be used every day? Would a short course of a prescribed topical corticosteroid help, and how should it be applied safely?