How to treat light spots on the back and torso

The light spots caused by hypomelanosis can be mitigated with the use of antibiotic ointments, frequent hydration or even with the use of phototherapy in the dermatologist's office. However, hypomelanosis has no cure and, therefore, forms of treatment should be used whenever the spots appear.

Hypomelanosis is a skin problem that causes the appearance of small white patches, between 1 and 5 mm, which appear mainly on the trunk, but which can spread to the neck and upper arms and legs. These spots are more evident during the summer due to sun exposure and can group together, forming large areas of light spots, especially on the back.

Hypomelanosis Pictures

Hypomelanosis patches on the back

Hypomelanosis patches on the arm

Treatment for hypomelanosis

Treatment for hypomelanosis should always be guided by a dermatologist and is usually done with:

Antibiotic creams, with benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin: must be prescribed by a dermatologist and help to eliminate bacteria that may be intensifying the appearance of stains, attenuating discoloration; Moisturizing creams: in addition to keeping the skin well hydrated, they are important to relieve skin irritation and help to increase the absorption of antibiotics from ointments; Phototherapy: it is a type of treatment done in the dermatologist's office and that uses concentrated ultraviolet rays to attenuate the discoloration of the spots.

In addition, to avoid the appearance of hypomelanosis patches or to speed up treatment, it is important to avoid excessive sun exposure and to use sunscreen with a factor greater than 30 daily, since the sun's rays aggravate skin discoloration in most cases. cases.

What causes hypomelanosis

Although there is no specific cause for hypomelanosis, in most cases it is possible to identify the existence of Propionibacterium acnes , a bacterium responsible for the appearance of acne and which can be eliminated with the use of topical antibiotics. However, the problem can reoccur even after eliminating the bacteria.

In addition, exposure to sunlight also influences the increase in light spots of hypomelanosis, thus being a more common skin problem in families in tropical regions where exposure to the sun is greater and the skin is darker.