Have you noticed small white spots on your arms or legs… and don’t know what they are? Here’s what an expert says — check out the first comment below

You notice a small white spot on your arm or leg.
You think “it’s just a sun spot” or “probably nothing.”
You ignore it.

Then more appear — on your chest, back, hands, or face.

These aren’t “normal aging marks.”
They’re your body screaming about hidden deficiencies, fungal infections, or serious conditions brewing inside.

Here are the 8 most common causes of white spots after 50 — and why catching them early can save your health (and your skin).

The 8 Hidden Causes of White Spots After 50

  1. Tinea Versicolor – The #1 “Silent Fungal” Cause
    → Yeast overgrowth (Malassezia) blocks melanin
    → White, pink, or brown patches on chest, back, arms
    → Common after 50 due to hormone changes and humidity
  2. Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH) – The “Sun Damage” Spots
    → Tiny, perfectly round white dots on shins and forearms
    → From cumulative UV damage — appears after decades of sun exposure
  3. Pityriasis Alba – The “Dry Patch” That Turns White
    → Mild eczema that loses pigment
    → Common on face, arms — often mistaken for vitiligo
  4. Nutritional Deficiencies (Copper, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D)
    → Low copper → melanin production fails
    → B12/D deficiency → nerve damage + pigment loss
    → 2023 study: 68% of white spot patients had low copper/B12
  5. Post-Inflammatory Hypopigmentation
    → Skin loses color after injury, psoriasis, or eczema heals
    → Common after 50 when healing slows
  6. Lichen Sclerosus – The Serious One Women Must Know
    → White, thin, wrinkled patches (usually genital area)
    → Autoimmune — can lead to scarring if ignored
  7. Vitiligo – The Autoimmune Pigment Destroyer
    → Immune system attacks melanocytes
    → Sharp-edged white patches, often symmetrical
  8. Chemical or Medication-Induced (Hydroquinone, Steroids)
    → Long-term use of strong creams → permanent white spots