Not sure what’s happened to the skin on my arms

[AJLang]

Particularly the lower part of one of the arms on the photo. I’m waiting for a nurse to phone me.

 

[ColinUK]

What's changed?

 

[AJLang]

What's changed?

There are brown and white patches that are not usually there.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Amanda. Not being familiar with your arms, it is difficult for us to assess what the difference is now which is concerning you. Is it the freackles, the slightly lighter spots, the general colour or perhaps some inflammation/swelling?

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amanda. Not being familiar with your arms, it is difficult for us to assess what the difference is now which is concerning you. Is it the freackles, the slightly lighter spots, the general colour or perhaps some inflammation/swelling?

Hi Rebrascira it’s the change in pigmentation with the brown and white patches - it may be easier to see on these photos but the photos aren’t very clear

 

[rebrascora]

Sorry, our posts crossed.
Just looked at my arms and I certainly have darker and lighter patches which look very similar. I have not noticed any significant change other than maybe a slight darkening due to my forearms being more exposed to the sun through the summer and probably the natural skin aging process or course 🙄 .
I don't see anything on the photos which would concern me, but if they seem to you to have changed quite suddenly, then it is probably best to get it checked out. You may need to explain your concerns to your nurse too as, like us, she may have difficulty spotting anything amiss.

 

[AJLang]

Thank you Rebrascora

 

[rebrascora]

I wonder if your arms are cooler this morning and the lighter patches are more noticeable as a result. The temp has started dropping a bit and that might restrict the blood flow a little and make the light patches lighter. I wonder if putting a fleece on for an hour and then checking them again might make a difference to how they look.

 

[AJLang]

Thank you Rebrascora but the house is at it’s normal warm temperature that I always have it at. The skin looked the same last night.

 

[Leadinglights]

Have you changed your detergent or shower gel?, it looks a bit like an allergic reaction to something, especially if it is itchy.

 

[AJLang]

Have you changed your detergent or shower gel?, it looks a bit like an allergic reaction to something, especially if it is itchy.

Thank you but no I haven’t changed anything and it’s not itchy.. I’ve just had a phone appointment with the senior nurse and she said that she thinks that it is vitiligo which is another autoimmune condition. She said there’s not a lot that can be done apart steroid cream cream over the counter but she didn’t think that would help. It’s just a watch and wait to see if it develops further.

 

[ColinUK]

Thank you but no I haven’t changed anything and it’s not itchy.. I’ve just had a phone appointment with the senior nurse and she said that she thinks that it is vitiligo which is another autoimmune condition. She said there’s not a lot that can be done apart steroid cream cream over the counter but she didn’t think that would help. It’s just a watch and wait to see if it develops further.

Next time you're in the vicinity of a local pharmacist you could also pop in and have a chat with whomsoever is behind the counter. They may be able to give more advice.

 

[AJLang]

Next time you're in the vicinity of a local pharmacist you could also pop in and have a chat with whomsoever is behind the counter. They may be able to give more advice.

Thank you Colin, that sounds a good idea. I’ve been looking at the relevant NHS pages and that has been helpful. Got to wear lots of high factor Su cream when I’m out because with vitiligo my skin hasn’t got the natural sun protection that it needs.

 

[Loobyloo]

Looks just like my arms. I do have vitiligo which i believe does go along with Diabetes sometimes. Nothing to worry about but maybe Nurse will reassure you.
It doesn't show great in these pics but i think you can see the white spots and see the pigment gone on parts of my hands and my wrists.

 

[AJLang]

Looks just like my arms. I do have vitiligo which i believe does go along with Diabetes sometimes. Nothing to worry about but maybe Nurse will reassure you.

Thank you Loobyloo nurse has confirmed that it looks like vitiligo. Do you use anything to stop it getting worse?

 

[Loobyloo]

Thank you Loobyloo nurse has confirmed that it looks like vitiligo. Do you use anything to stop it getting worse?

No it really doesn't worry me as long as not harming me. I don't think there is a lot that can be done. Some poor people have on their faces which would worry me more. Yours really doesn't look bad at all i wouldn't worry i doubt anyone else will notice. My wrists, knuckles and patches on hands are much worse and are white with no pigment but i don't really stress about it. I added some pics above now.

 

[Loobyloo]

I will say it looks better in the winter when you don't have a tan lol. Can hardly notice mine then as rest of the skin is whiter. Maybe avoid a tan if it bothers you. Some treatments mentioned in this link which i won't use because of side effects cost, skin thinning etc

Rutger's University Researchers Are Testing 'Needling' as a Natural Treatment for Vitiligo

Plus, anyone with this skin condition should avoid pickles and the other foods on this list

draxe.com

 

[AJLang]

Thank you Loobyloo for all of your help - lol my skin seems to have developed a perma tan from lots of sunbathing when I was younger - I’ve hardly been in the sun this year mainly sitting in the shade.

 

[Loobyloo]

Thank you Loobyloo for all of your help - lol my skin seems to have developed a perma tan from lots of sunbathing when I was younger - I’ve hardly been in the sun this year mainly sitting in the shade.

Yes mine does too, but if i do build a darker tan it shows up far more. Because my worst is on my wrists its shows much more in the summer as the insides of my arms don't have the perma tan and do go whiter in the winter. Yours is probably showing up now as you have been in the sun all summer so prob at your darkest at the mo like me. I don't sunbathe either these days but just get from generally being out in the summer.