The Difference Between Vitiligo and Pityriasis Simplex

We know that the main symptom of vitiligo is white patches on the skin, but there are white patches are not necessarily vitiligo, many diseases with white spots are easy to confuse with vitiligo, in this passage we will give you the difference between vitiligo and pityriasis simplex. Pityriasis simplex also called pityriasis alba or pityriasis maculata dry furfur is a clinically common skin disease in dermatology, the disease has many similarities with vitiligo in form, so attention needs to be paid to the distinction in diagnosing, to avoid misdiagnosis and the delay of treatment.

The exact cause of Pityriasis Simplex is not clear yet, some dry skin people can suffer from Pityriasis Simplex after strong sunlight exposure. Some scholars believe that it is related to infection factors, but all fail to culture or isolate bacteria, fungi, or viruses. While some other scholars believe that the occurrence of this disease is related to the atopic physique. The onset of this disease is mostly seen in children and adolescents, there is no gender difference, and it is more frequent in spring, while some patients’ conditions can subside by themselves after summer and autumn. Typical lesions are hypopigmented round or oval patches of varying sizes, with clear borders and slightly elevated edges, covered with a small number of fine scales, often on the face, but also on the upper arms, neck, shoulders, and other parts. Generally, patients feel no conscious symptoms, but some patients may have mild pruritus symptoms. The pathology shows hypertrophy of the spinous layer, mild edema, moderate hyperkeratosis, patchy hyperkeratosis, and reduced melanin.

The color of white patches of vitiligo is more obvious, the border is clear, the border has pigment deepening, the surface of white patches is smooth without scales, the hair of white spot could be white, and there is no certain preferred site and histopathology shows melanocyte reduction or disappearance. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the difference in diagnosis and treatment, especially the difference in medication between the two.