Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes White Spots on Skin?
- Posted on: Sep 30 2022
When it comes to having healthy skin, a diet rich in nutrients is an important piece of the puzzle. Vitamin deficiencies can affect your skin’s appearance in many ways, such as through the development of white spots. Let’s look at how different vitamin deficiencies can cause white spots on the skin and explore treatment options if you’re experiencing this skin issue.
Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes White Spots on the Skin?
If your diet doesn’t contain sufficient vitamins and minerals, it can lead to the development of skin lesions and other problems. Insufficient amounts of the following vitamins can cause white patches or spots on the skin:
Vitamin C
This essential nutrient helps your skin produce a protein called collagen, which is vital in the structure and function of healthy skin and connective tissue. A deficiency in vitamin C can affect your skin pigmentation, causing unusually pale skin.
Folate
Folic acid, or vitamin B-9, helps your body produce red blood cells. Not getting enough folate in your diet can lead to a loss of skin pigmentation. This includes folate-deficiency anemia, a condition that causes pale skin.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is also important for skin pigmentation and helps your body produce hemoglobin, a protein present in red blood cells. If you’re deficient in vitamin B-12, you’re at risk for pernicious anemia, which leads to pale-looking skin.
Vitamin D
The color of your skin affects your body’s vitamin D levels. Melanocytes are cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation, and they also help your body synthesize vitamin D. How much sunlight your body requires to make vitamin D is influenced by your skin color. People with lighter skin usually need less sunlight than people with darker skin.
Treatment Options for White Spots on the Skin
At Asarch Dermatology, we have numerous treatment options designed to help you improve the health and appearance of your skin. During your consultation, your provider will discuss the treatment options available to help treat white spots on the skin. These include:
Skin Exam
Any changes in your skin, including the presence of white spots, should always be assessed by a dermatologist. During a skin exam, your Asarch dermatologist carefully examines the skin on your body. Since many skin conditions can cause white patches, receiving a skin exam is the first step toward receiving a diagnosis.
Cosmetic Consultation
If you have a loss of pigmentation resulting in white spots on your skin, scheduling a cosmetic consultation can help you learn more about the health of your skin. We use a complexion imaging system called VISIA to produce a multi-dimensional image of your skin. This allows us to effectively analyze and diagnose skin conditions and provide treatment recommendations.
Light Therapy
NeoLTS is a light therapy procedure that can improve your skin’s tone, texture, and clarity. During this non-invasive treatment, the skin is exposed to different wavelengths of light. As the light energy penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the targeted skin cells, the skin heals more effectively. NeoLTS offers long-term results, and the procedure has no downtime.
CO2RE
A CO2 fractional laser is a skin resurfacing treatment option for improving the appearance of damaged skin and imperfections. We offer CO2RE laser technology, which allows us to target both the surface layer of skin and the deeper layers of skin at the same time. Results are long-lasting, and most patients only need a single treatment session to achieve their desired results.
How to Improve the Appearance of White Spots on the Skin at Home
Following a healthy, nutrient-rich diet and taking vitamin supplements as recommended by your doctor can help treat most vitamin deficiencies and prevent the development of white spots on the skin. Follow these tips to ensure that you’re receiving sufficient vitamins and minerals:
- Increase your vitamin C intake by eating oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, and bell peppers.
- Focus on beans, lentils, and dark leafy greens to get your daily intake of folate.
- Meats, eggs, and fish are good sources of vitamin B-12.
- Eating mushrooms, fatty fish, egg yolks, and spending time in the sun each day can help you increase your levels of vitamin D.
- Talk to your doctor about supplementing your diet with vitamin supplements.
Visit a Dermatologist for White Spots on the Skin
When changes in your skin caused by white spots are taking a toll on your self-confidence, the board-certified dermatologists at Asarch Dermatology are here to help. To learn more about the treatment options we have available, contact us to schedule a consultation at our offices in Englewood, Castle Rock, or Lakewood.