How to get rid of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis spots?

Author: Dr. Arielle Nader Jr.  |  Last update: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Several treatment options are available to help reduce the appearance of white spots: Topical Treatments Topical steroids and retinoids are commonly used to stimulate pigment production in the affected areas. These treatments can help blend the white spots with the surrounding skin over time.

Can I get rid of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a common acquired skin condition characterized by multiple discrete, round, porcelain-white macules on the extensor aspects of the extremities in the elderly population. Most patients are reassured of the benign nature of the condition and no treatment is recommended.

What is the best cream for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

Tretinoin topical (Avita, Retin-A)

Tretinoin has been shown to reverse some aspects of sun damage. It is available as 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1% creams and as 0.01% and 0.025% gels.

What is the new treatment for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

A combination of excimer light with topical bimatoprost appears to be a promising potential treatment option for IGH, a condition where management options are otherwise limited.

Is IGH a fungus?

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH):

Is not contagious. Is not the same as vitiligo. Very rarely affects the face. Is not a fungus.

HOW TO GET RID OF WHITE SPOTS ON SKIN | DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

Is IGH permanent?

There is currently no permanent cure for IGH. However, treatments can help reduce the appearance of white spots and manage the condition effectively.

How to get rid of white age spots on legs?

Age spot treatments include:
  1. Medications. Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. ...
  2. Laser and intense pulsed light. ...
  3. Freezing (cryotherapy). ...
  4. Dermabrasion. ...
  5. Microdermabrasion. ...
  6. Chemical peel.

Is IGH autoimmune?

It may affect the mucous membranes inside the mouth or nose, as well as the skin. While the exact etiology is as yet unknown, it is thought to be related to autoimmunity.

Can retinol help idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

Medical Care. Medical therapy for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis includes corticosteroids, either topical or intralesional, and retinoids, typically topical tretinoin.

Why do I get white spots on my legs after sun exposure?

Sun exposure and tanning can lead to white sun spots on the skin. The presence of white sun spots on the skin is clinically known as idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH).

Can IGH be cured?

Treatment / Management

Patients should be reassured that lesions of IGH are benign and no treatment necessary. There are no universally accepted efficacious treatments for this condition.

What cream gets rid of white sun spots?

low-dose corticosteroid creams, like 1-percent hydrocortisone cream. Elidel cream, a nonsteroidal formula. ultraviolet light treatment in combination with topical medications. bleaching the skin surrounding large white patches to blend them.

What is idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis associated with?

The cause is not known, but it appears to be related to the effect of the sun on melanocytes, which makes them effete. A variety of therapeutic methods, including topical steroids, topical retinoids, dermabrasion, cryotherapy, and minigrafting, have been used for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis with variable success.

What cream is good for guttate Hypomelanosis?

Tretinoin cream used daily for 4 months showed some improvement in pigmentation in one study. In this study 0.025% tretinoin cream was used nightly for the first week, 0.05% nightly for the second week, and 0.1% nightly for the remainder of the study.

How can you tell the difference between IGH and vitiligo?

But the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School explains that IGH spots are usually hypopigmented, or low in pigment, not completely free of pigment as seen in vitiligo.

Can you reverse white sun spots?

For stubborn white spots on skin after being in sun, laser treatments can be an option. This treatment uses concentrated light to target and encourage pigment production in the affected areas. Although this method can be effective, dermatologists usually reserve for more severe cases of white sun spots on skin.

What is the most effective treatment for IGH?

What is the treatment for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?
  • Cryotherapy — 5 second, single session, repigmentation visible by 4 months.
  • Topical treatments — topical steroid, tacrolimus, topical retinoids.
  • Procedural treatments — chemical peel, excimer laser, skin grafting.

How to cure white spots on skin naturally?

One of the most effective ways in which you can get rid of the white spots on face through the use of natural ways is by using coconut oil. The white spots which are caused by fungal or microbial infection or a skin condition such as eczema can be effectively treated with the help of coconut oil.

Does tretinoin help white sun spots?

Tretinoin is a prescription cream. It's a type of retinoid derived from Vitamin A. Tretinoin is considered the gold standard topical (applied to the skin) treatment, as it's the only ingredient that's been studied and examined for the treatment of white spots from sun damage.

Is IGH genetic?

Immunoglobulin heavy locus, also known as IGH, is a region on human chromosome 14 that contains a gene for the heavy chains of human antibodies (or immunoglobulins). Immunoglobulins recognize foreign antigens and initiate immune responses such as phagocytosis and the complement system.

What deficiency causes idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

The classic white spots of IGH are due to a decrease in melanin in the skin. There is evidence of a genetic component as this disease has been known to run in families. As the name suggests, the exact cause of IGH is unknown, but ultraviolet light exposure may play an important role in the cause of IGH.

What is the rarest autoimmune disease?

Asherson's syndrome is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the development, over a period of hours, days or weeks, of rapidly progressive blood clots affecting multiple organ systems of the body.

Does apple cider vinegar really get rid of age spots?

There's also evidence that it may help manage dry skin, acne, and age spots, among other conditions. ACV is generally safe to use, but it does come with a risk of irritation or worsening skin symptoms, especially for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

What vitamin deficiency causes white spots on legs?

Deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D and vitamin E can cause white patches on the skin. While harmless, these white spots indicate that you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

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