Leukoplakia
Also called: smoker's keratosis
Thickened, white patches inside the mouth.
- Treatable by a medical professional
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging rarely required
- Medium-term: resolves within months
Most leukoplakia patches are noncancerous, but some show early signs of cancer. They may be caused by tobacco products.
Thickened, white patches form on the gums, the insides of the cheeks, the bottom of the mouth, and, sometimes, the tongue. The patches can't be scraped off.
For most people, stopping tobacco or alcohol use clears the condition. In rare cases when patches are persistent, surgery can remove them.
Common: More than 200,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice
Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
People also ask
How to get rid of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?
Medical therapy for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis includes corticosteroids, either topical or intralesional, and retinoids, typically topical tretinoin.
Why do I have a random white patch?
White spots can appear when skin proteins or dead cells become trapped under the skin's surface. They can also result from depigmentation, or color loss, due to vitiligo or another health condition. White skin spots are not usually a reason for concern and do not cause major symptoms.
Can idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis turn into cancer?
No, idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is not a form of skin cancer. It is a benign condition characterized by small, white spots on the skin. Can IGH spread to other parts of the body? IGH is typically localized to sun-exposed areas such as the arms and legs.
Can white patches be cancer?
In most cases, white spots are not a cause for concern and do not require medical treatment. However, people should see a dermatologist, who can check for early signs of skin cancer if the spot: remains after a few weeks of basic treatment. continuously reappears.
Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH) is a benign and asymptomatic skin manifestation characterized as diffuse hypopigmented macules, or white spots.
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a common acquired form of leukoderma that presents as small flat pale or white spots on the sun-exposed limbs.
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) is a benign, typically asymptomatic, leukodermic dermatosis of unclear etiology that is classically seen in elderly, ...
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH), is a benign skin condition characterized by the presence of many round or oval hypopigmented patches.
Jan 17, 2020 · Small white spots on arms, or “reverse freckles” are a benign skin condition called idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis.
Jan 20, 2020 · Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of the skin that causes white spots. It's pretty distinctive and is frequently diagnosed by a dermatologist simply by looking ...
Leukoplakia is a condition that creates white patches on your tongue, gums or the inside of your cheeks. The patches don't hurt but they don't go away.
Missing: idiopathic | Show results with:idiopathic
Jan 15, 2019 · The answer is E: vitiligo. Vitiligo is characterized by asymptomatic, acquired, amelanotic macules and patches that are milky or chalk-white in color.
Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a common acquired form of leukoderma characterised by flat porcelain-white macules on sun-exposed areas.
Apr 27, 2021 · Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis The cause of IGH is unknown, though factors such as chronic sun exposure and genetics may play a role. People ...
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