White Spots and Dark Spots on Skin: What to Know

Dark areas may follow irritation, acne, an injury, or repeated sunlight. Melasma often forms broader brown patches, while sun spots tend to be distinct areas on exposed skin. A fungal rash such as Tinea Versicolor can create lighter or darker patches with fine scale. Loss of pigment can also occur in other skin conditions, so colour alone cannot identify the cause.

Notice whether the area is flat, scaly, itchy, painful, sharply outlined, or spreading. Compare it with nearby skin in natural light and note recent products, rashes, shaving, or sun exposure.

Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansing and moisturising, and protect exposed skin from sunlight with clothing and broad-spectrum sunscreen. Avoid picking, bleaching products, and unprescribed steroid creams, which can worsen irritation or pigment changes. A clinician may examine the surface and use a light to distinguish pigment loss from scale. Treatment depends on the cause and may include care for inflammation or infection; cosmetic options such as Chemical Peel, Skin Brightening Treatment, or Picosecond Laser Treatment need individual suitability checks.

Arrange a dermatology assessment if spots are new and spreading, repeatedly returning, scaly, inflamed, bleeding, or changing in shape or colour. Seek prompt care for rapidly changing skin, significant pain, swelling, pus, fever, or involvement of the eyes or mouth. Urgency is based on these warning features, not on whether a spot is light or dark.

Could this be Melasma, Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, Sun Spots, or Tinea Versicolor? Does the surface show scale or inflammation? Which products should I stop, and what treatment is suitable for my skin tone?