White Spots On Face: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Do you have white spots across your cheeks, chin, jawline, or elsewhere on your face? While a number of conditions can cause these white spots, there are high chances that they can even spread to your other body parts.

But, do not panic! You can get rid of these annoying white spots on your face with effective Ayurvedic treatments that have zero side effects.

Scroll down to know what causes white spots and how you can prevent them.

Common Types Of White Spots On Face

1. Milia

Milia [1] is a skin condition that turns up as small fluid-filled boils on your face, which can lead to formation of white spots. Though it is typically noticed in babies, milia can also be found in adults.

Causes

Milia or milk spots are formed when dead skin cells and keratin get trapped beneath the epidermis layer of your skin. As per Ayurveda, it is linked to the vitiation of Vata dosha.

Some of the triggering factors for milia includes:

• Overexposure to sun
• Harsh skincare products
• Dehydration
• Stress
• Constipation, etc.

Symptoms

A. Tiny hard round white bumps, which usually appear on cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the eyes

B. No pain or itchiness

Treatments For Milia

A. Ayurvedic Herbs

1. Eladi Taila (Cardamom Oil):

Perform Abhyanga using Eladi taila everyday half an hour before you take a bath.

2. Triphala:

Add two spoons of warm coconut oil to two spoons of triphala powder. Apply it to the milia spots and wash it off after half an hour.

3. Sariva (Indian Sarsaparilla):

Add 1-3 gms of sariva powder to a glass of normal water. Drink it twice a day after taking some light food.

B. Home Remedies

1. Steaming:

Fill a large bowl with hot water. Now, cover your head with a towel and bend over the hot water to get your milia pores steamed. Let the steam open up your skin pores for about 5-10 minutes. You can exfoliate your face with a gentle herbal scrub after the steaming process for better results.

2. Lemon:

Take a lemon slice and rub it on the milia spots gently. Leave it for half an hour and rinse it off with tepid water.

3. Honey:

Spread a spoonful of honey evenly on the affected area. Leave it for half an hour before rinsing it off. Repeat daily.

4. Sugar:

Add each spoon of lemon juice and coconut oil to 2 spoons of granulated sugar. Use it as a natural scrub to exfoliate the affected area for 3-5 minutes. Leave it for half an hour and wash it off with normal water. Repeat this 3-4 times a week.

5. Vitamin A:

Your body needs 700-900 mcg of vitamin A daily. You can take it as a supplement after consulting with your doctor. Also, you can have foods such as almonds, carrots, avocados, etc. regularly for sufficient vitamin A supply to your body. This in turn helps to resolve milia.

C. Other Medical Treatments

1. Retinoid creams

2. Keratin extraction using a medical-grade needle

3. Microdermabrasion

Duration To Resolve

In general, 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, it may take a few months.

2. Pityriasis Alba

Pityriasis alba [2] is a condition that involves flaky white patches appearing on your skin. It is a type of eczema that often affects children between the age group of 3-16 years.

Causes

Scientifically, the exact cause of pityriasis alba is not discovered yet. As per Ayurveda, it can be correlated to the condition called ‘Mandala Kusta’, which is caused by vitiated Kapha dosha in the body.

Some of the other factors that can attribute to pityriasis alba include:

• Sun exposure
• Malassezia yeast infection
• Low levels of copper traces in the blood serum
• The aggressive response of your immune system against skin irritants, etc.

Symptoms

A. Oval, round, or irregular white lesions of diameter ranging from 0.5-5 cm

B. Dryness

C. Scaliness

D. No or minimum itching

Treatments For Pityriasis Alba

A. Ayurvedic Herbs

1. Nimba (Neem):

Massage the affected area with neem oil daily for 5-10 minutes. Leave it for half an hour and wash it off using a mild soap.

2. Aragvadha (Cassia Fistula):

It can be used as a herbal oil to apply externally on the white patches. You can take it in the form of aragwadharishtam or drink herbal tea made of aragvadha herb as prescribed by your Ayurvedic doctor to deal with skin disorders.

3. Katuki (Picrorhiza Kurroa):

Add 4-8 pinches of katuki powder to 2 spoons of honey or water. Have it once or twice a day as prescribed by your doctor.

B. Home Remedies

1. Turmeric:

Prepare a paste by adding a few drops of mustard oil to turmeric powder. Apply it to the white patches and leave it for half an hour before washing it off.

2. Ginger:

Cut a thin slice of ginger and rub it on the white spots. You can also add a few spoons of ginger juice and lemon juice to a glass of water and drink it twice a day.

3. Vitamin E Oil:

Apply pure vitamin E oil on the white spots. Leave it for half an hour before washing it off. Repeat this thrice a day.

C. Other Medical Treatments

1. Hydrating Moisturizers

2. Topical steroids containing hydrocortisone in case of itchiness

Duration To Resolve

Though it takes a few months to clear, the discoloration can last up to 3 years.

3. Vitiligo

Vitiligo [3] is a condition that occurs due to the death of pigmentation cells(melanocytes) in any area of your body, resulting in evident white patches. It is also called ‘leucoderma’.

Causes

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder in which the antibodies produced in your body destroy the melanin-producing pigment cells in your skin. In Ayurvedic terms, it is called ‘Shweta Kushta’ or ‘Switra’, which is caused due to the vitiation of all the three doshas in the lymph, muscles, skin, and watery element of your body. It can be developed by people at any age.

Other factors that contribute to the manifestation of vitiligo involves:

• Heredity
• Side effects of radiation or chemotherapy
• Toxicity caused by certain medications

Symptoms

1. Depigmented white patches can appear on your face, hands, arms, legs, feet, etc.

2. Initially, the size of the patch appears to be small, but they gradually increase to cover a large area of your body. However, the widespread white spots are rare.

Classification of symptoms based on dominant dosha in your body:

Vataja leucoderma:

Dryness, redness, patches with a rough surface, and no discharge.

Pittaja leucoderma:

Patches in coppery white color, burning sensation, and hair follicle loss

Kaphaja leucoderma:

Dense, white and heavy patches, itchiness.

Treatments For Pityriasis Alba

A. Ayurvedic Herbs

1. Bakuchi (Psoralea Corylifolia):

Mix bakuchi oil and coconut oil in equal amounts and apply it to the affected area. Expose your skin to the morning sunlight for 10-15 minutes before you take a bath with a mild herbal cleanser.

2. Bhallataka (Marking Nut):

You can use bhallataka oil or bhallataka lepa to treat vitiligo as per instructions given by your doctor.

3. Daruharidra (Berberis Aristata):

Prepare a paste by adding water to daruharidra powder. Apply this to the affected areas and wash it off after 45-60 minutes.

4. Kakodumbara (Redwood Fig Tree):

The decoction of Verksaka is made by using Kakodumbarika paste along with other herbs such as vella, abola, nimba, and vyosa. This should be consumed as prescribed by your doctor to treat vitiligo.

5. Karanja (Millettia Pinnata):

Add 3-5 drops of karanja oil to a few spoons of coconut oil. Apply it to the affected area twice a day.

B. Home Remedies

1. Papaya:

Rub the pieces of papaya gently on the vitiligo patches. Leave it to dry and then wash it off after half an hour. Drinking papaya juice regularly too helps your body to replenish lost melanocytes in your skin.

2. Red Clay:

Add a spoon of freshly extracted ginger juice to 2 spoons of red clay. Apply the paste to the white patches every day and wash it off after half an hour.

C. Other Medical Treatments

1. Topical creams

2. Oral medication

3. Skin grafting treatment

4. Ultraviolet light therapy

Vedix Tip: The Vitiligo-affected skin is highly susceptible to sun damage. Hence, people should always cover the affected areas or use an effective sunscreen lotion when they go out in the sun.

Duration To Resolve

“Vataja vitiligo can be resolved within a few months whereas Pittaja vitiligo may take a few years. However, Kaphaja vitiligo is almost impossible to cure,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

4. Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor [4] is the most common type of skin allergy that results in dry, round white patches due to fungal infection.

Causes

It is caused by the overgrowth of a fungus called ‘Malassezia globosa’, which interferes with the functioning of pigment cells on your skin.

“Ayurveda refers to tinea versicolor as ‘Sidma Kusta’, which is primarily caused by the vitiated Kapha and Vata doshas. Sometimes, it is also associated with Pitta disorder in your body,” says Dr. Zeel.

Some of the factors which trigger the overgrowth of yeast on your skin include:

• Moist skin due to humid and hot conditions leading to perspiration for a longer time
• Oily skin type
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Diabetes
• Weakened immune system caused by chronic disorders

Symptoms

1. The occurrence of pink or white round spots on the neck, chest, upper arms, between toes, etc.

2. Mild to severe itching

3. Burning sensation (when Pitta is aggravated)

4. Nails discoloration

Treatments For Tinea Versicolor

A. Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurveda recommends the usage of Deepana pachana herbs in the treatment of tinea versicolor.

1. Nimba (Neem):

Apply neem paste externally on the affected areas and rinse it off after half an hour. You can also drink a small amount of freshly extracted neem juice daily to treat tinea versicolor.

2. Kumari (Aloe Vera):

Apply aloe vera gel directly to the affected area. Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning.

3. Haridra (Turmeric):

Apply turmeric paste to the affected area and leave it for half an hour. Later, rub off the paste with a gentle massage and wash it off with water.

B. Home Remedies

1. Apple Cider Vinegar:

Add two spoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water. Apply the solution to your skin and wash it off after 20 minutes. Repeat this twice a day.

2. Tea Tree Oil:

Add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil into a cup of coconut or olive oil. Apply the oil to the infected area about three to four times a day.

3. Baking Soda:

Add a few spoons of baking soda to your shoes when your toes are infected with tinea versicolor. This will absorb the moisture and sweat while preventing further spread of the infection.

C. Other Medical Treatments

1. Antifungal ointments

2. Antifungal soaps and shampoos

3. Oral antifungal medication such as fluconazole

Duration To Resolve

It can take a few weeks in mild cases and a few months in severe cases for your skin to recover.

5. Sun Spots (Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis)

White sun spots [5] are one of the most common skin pigmentation disorders. Women develop these spots at an early age when compared to men.

Causes

Though the actual cause of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is yet to be fully understood, it is often linked to chronic UV exposure. As per Ayurveda, it is considered a Pitta-Vata disorder.

Some of the triggering factors of sunspots include:

• Deficiency of calcium, vitamin D & E
• Not wearing sunscreen
• Eating hot and spicy foods frequently
• Dehydration
• Genetics, etc.

Symptoms

A. Round, flat white spots with a diameter ranging from 2-5mm.

B. These spots can appear on different body parts including legs, arms, face, back, etc.

Treatments For Sun Spots

Ayurvedic Herbs

1. Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri):

Add a little amount of water to brahmi powder and apply it as a face mask regularly.

2. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus):

Add a spoon of coconut oil to a spoon of shatavari powder. Apply it to the affected area and massage gently for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water.

3. Amla (Phyllanthus emblica):

Mix each spoon of honey and yogurt into two spoons of amla powder. Apply this mixture on sunspots and wash it off after half an hour.

4. Vidari Kanda (Pueraria tuberosa):

Add a spoon of honey to 1 ½ spoon of vidari kanda powder. Apply it to your sunspots and leave it for half an hour before washing it off.

B. Home Remedies

1. Aloe Vera:

Rub the freshly extracted aloe vera gel gently over the sunspots. Leave it for half an hour before rinsing with normal water. Repeat this twice a day.

2. Castor & COD Liver Oil:

Mix castor oil and COD liver oil in equal parts and apply it to the sunspots. Massage it for a few minutes and wash it off with plain water after half an hour. Repeat this twice a day.

3. Garlic:

Dip a cotton ball in freshly extracted garlic juice and apply to the affected area. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and wash it off with normal water. Repeat this twice a day.

4. Vitamin D & Calcium:

You can include foods such as okra, spinach, soybeans, white beans, collards, etc. in your meals regularly for adequate calcium and vitamin D supply to your body. You can also opt for supplements as prescribed by your doctor.

C. Other Medical Treatments

1. Topical steroids to reduce skin inflammation

2. Retinoids

3. Sunscreens with higher SPF

Duration To Resolve

Usually, sunspots can be resolved in 3-4 weeks. In severe cases, it may take as long as 2-3 months.

Ayurvedic Diet And Lifestyle For Your Skin

As per Ayurveda, your diet and lifestyle have a key role to play in keeping your skin healthy. Below are some of the dietary and lifestyle guidelines which you need to incorporate when you have skin ailments resulting in white spots.

1. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking sufficient water. Drink water stored overnight in a copper vessel for best results.

2. Consume ginger in your daily diet. Ginger ensures improved blood circulation to the white spots on your skin.

3. Eat citrus fruits, figs, pomegranate, leafy vegetables, etc. that are rich in antioxidants.

4. Have a glass of buttermilk daily, especially after your lunch.

5. Avoid consuming caffeinated drinks, alcohol, sugars, and over salty and spicy foods.

6. Avoid over consumption of sea foods.

7. Keep yourself stress-free. You can manage your stress levels effectively by doing yoga and meditation.

8. Expose your body to the early morning sun for 15-20 minutes. This boosts the synthesis of vitamin D in your body.

9. Ensure to apply sunscreen with SPF of 30 at least before you step out in the sun. Keep reapplying the sunscreen every 2-3 hours.

10. Do not get into public pools and never share your clothes with others.

11. Avoid using harsh soaps on your skin that drains your natural body oil.

12. Stick to a natural and gentle skincare regimen based on your skin type while you avoid harmful chemical-based products and cosmetics.

Important Note:

It is strictly advised to consult your doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner before using any of the herbal and medical drugs to treat white spots on your skin.

The Last Word

Most of the conditions associated with white spots are harmless and can be treated with Ayurvedic and natural home remedies easily. However, if the white spots continue to spread or do not seem to go away after a couple of weeks, we suggest you consult your dermatologist immediately.

At Vedix, we understand your skin type based on your elevated doshas and customize an Ayurvedic skincare regimen that addresses your unique skin concerns.

Know Your Dosha Now