Skin color - patchy

Alternative Names

Home Care

Normal skin color may return on its own in some cases.

Lotions that bleach or lighten the skin, such as hydroquinone, may be used to reduce hyperpigmented skin or to even the skin tone where hypopigmented areas are large or very noticeable.

Selsun blue or tolnaftate (Tinactin) lotion can help in treating tinea versicolor. Apply as directed to the affected area daily until the lesions disappear. Unfortunately, tinea versicolor often returns no matter what type of treatment is used.

Cosmetics or skin dyes may be used to disguise skin color changes. Makeup can help hide mottled skin but will not cure the underlying problem.

Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sun block. Hypopigmented skin sunburns easily, and hyperpigmented skin may get even darker.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your doctor if you have any persistent skin coloring changes without a known cause.

Also call if you you notice a new mole or other growth, or if an existing one has changed color, size, or appearance.

The doctor will carefully examine the skin and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:

• When did the skin coloring change develop?
• Did it develop slowly or suddenly?
• Is it getting worse? How fast?
• What is your normal skin color?
• Does the skin coloring change appear in more than one location?
• Have you had any injury to the skin (including sunburn or frequent sun tans)?
• Are you pregnant?
• What medications do you take?
• What medical treatments have you had?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Tests that may be done include:

• Scrapings of skin lesions
• Skin biopsy
• Wood's lamp (ultraviolet light) examination of the skin