claim:
The viral reel claims that the white spots that commonly appear on children’s faces are usually caused by pityriasis albicans, a harmless skin condition linked to dry skin, and not by calcium deficiency or intestinal worms. She notes that regular use of moisturizer and sunscreen can help improve spots over time.
fact:
Current evidence and expert opinion suggests that the white spots that commonly appear on children’s faces are often caused by pityriasis albicans, a harmless, self-limiting skin condition associated with dry skin or mild eczema. There is no scientific evidence that these spots are caused by calcium deficiency or intestinal worms, and regular use of moisturizer and sunscreen can help improve their appearance over time. Experts also advise medical evaluation if spots persist or get worse or if the diagnosis is uncertain.
In a Viral instagram reel Posted by Dr. Imran Patela pediatrician with more than 12.3 million followers on the platform, explains that the white spots that commonly appear on children’s faces are usually caused by a harmless skin condition called pityriasis albicans and are not a sign of calcium deficiency or intestinal worms.
In the reel, Dr. Patel points to a young child who has a pale spot on his face and says, “Can you see this white spot? This is called pityriasis alba.” He continues to address common misconceptions, explaining that many people believe that such spots occur due to a lack of calcium or because of the presence of worms in the stomach, but he says: “This is not true.”
According to Dr. Patel, pityriasis albicans is most often associated with dry skin. Parents are advised to apply moisturizer regularly and use sunscreen when children go outdoors, explaining that exposure to sunlight can darken the surrounding skin and make light spots appear more noticeable. “This is a very common condition, and there’s nothing to worry about,” he says, adding that frequent application of moisturizer usually helps spots improve over time.
The clip has gained massive traction on Instagram, garnering more than 3.4 million views and 27,700 likes.
Is the white spot on the child’s face normal?
Evidence suggests that the white spots that commonly appear on children’s faces are often due to… Pityriasis albaIt is a benign, self-limiting skin condition often associated with dry skin. While spots can become more noticeable after exposure to sunlight due to darkening of the surrounding skin, current evidence does not support the widespread belief that they are caused by calcium deficiency or intestinal worms.
A 2006 Randomized controlled trial 60 children and young adults aged 6 to 21 years with pityriasis albicans were evaluated to compare treatment with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment plus a moisturizer and sunscreen with SPF 20 versus moisturizer and sunscreen alone. The researchers found that both groups showed significant improvement over the nine-week study period, suggesting that regular skin care in itself was beneficial. However, the improvement was greater in the tacrolimus group. “Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment appears to be an effective and safe treatment for PA,” the researchers concluded. The study also reported that only a small number of participants experienced a mild, temporary burning sensation after applying tacrolimus.
More evidence comes from A 2012 Randomized controlled study It included 28 children aged 3-17 years with facial pityriasis albuginea. Researchers compared calcitriol ointment 0.0003% and tacrolimus ointment 0.1% with placebo (Vaseline) over eight weeks. Both active treatments produced greater improvement than placebo, with tacrolimus and calcitriol producing an average improvement of 68%, compared with 44% in the placebo group.
Importantly, the study also explored why pityriasis albicans develops. The researchers found that affected skin had significantly increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), a sign of impaired skin barrier function. As treatment progressed, improvement in pigmentation was accompanied by restoration of the skin barrier. “This suggests that PA may have a local skin barrier defect,” the researchers noted, suggesting that dry skin and barrier dysfunction play an important role in this condition.
Interestingly, the participants were not asked to use sunscreen or change their sun exposure habits, yet the lesions continued to improve. Based on these findings, the researchers suggested that factors other than UV radiation are likely involved in the development of pityriasis albuginea. They also stressed that because the condition is generally self-limiting and not medically serious, larger and longer-term studies are needed to better understand its causes and determine the most appropriate treatments.
What do experts say?
According to Dr Shirin Furtado, Senior Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatologist at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, white spots on a baby’s face are most commonly due to pityriasis albicans, especially when they appear on the cheeks, forehead or chin. The condition was described as a harmless, non-contagious skin disorder that usually appears in the form of light-colored round or oval spots with mild dryness or fine scales.
“It is considered a mild form of eczema and often appears in children between the ages of 3 and 16,” she said. Dr. Furtado explained that spots often become more noticeable after exposure to sunlight because the surrounding skin gains color while the affected areas do not. She added, “The condition does not cause pain, and the itching is usually mild or absent, and it is not a sign of a serious disease,” noting that most cases improve gradually over several months to a year, although the complete return to normal skin color may take longer.
Addressing common misconceptions, Dr. Furtado said that there is no scientific evidence to support the belief that pityriasis albicans is caused by calcium deficiency or intestinal worms. “These are long-standing myths that persist in many societies but are not supported by medical research,” she said. She explained that calcium deficiency primarily affects bone health and growth, while intestinal worm infections may cause digestive symptoms or nutritional deficiencies but do not directly cause pityriasis albicans. She cautioned that relying on such myths may delay proper skin care or medical evaluation. “White spots can have several causes, including pityriasis alba, fungal infections, vitiligo and other skin conditions. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, parents should consult a dermatologist rather than rely on unproven beliefs or unnecessary treatments.”
Speaking about the causes of this condition, Dr. Furtado said that although the exact cause of pityriasis alba is not fully understood, dry skin is considered one of the most important contributing factors. She pointed out that this condition usually appears in children with sensitive skin or who have a personal or family history of eczema, asthma, or allergies. “Mild dermatitis may temporarily reduce skin pigment, leading to lighter spots after the inflammation settles,” she explained. She added that cold weather, frequent bathing with harsh soaps, insufficient hydration and exposure to sunlight can make spots more noticeable or worsen dry skin.
Regarding treatment, Dr. Furtado said that regular use of a gentle moisturizer remains the mainstay of treatment, as it improves dry skin and helps spots gradually fade. She also recommended using sunscreen to reduce darkening of the surrounding skin, making contrast with light spots less noticeable. In some cases, doctors may prescribe a mild anti-inflammatory cream if there is redness, itching or active inflammation, she said.
Dr. Furtado advised parents to seek medical evaluation if the spots spread quickly, become completely white with sharply defined borders, are accompanied by significant itching, pain or redness, or fail to improve after several months. “Medical review is also important if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, because conditions such as vitiligo, fungal infections or other skin disorders may require different treatment,” she said.
This story was done in collaboration with First verificationthe health journalism sector of DataLEADS
