- Eczema: White patches on the skin are a sign of mild eczema. If itching, swelling and redness of the surrounding areas of the skin accompany the white patches, an external allergen or irritant may be at the root cause of the eczema. Eczema is not a serious medical condition and can be easily treated with corticosteroid creams and lotions.
- Yeast infection: A specific type of yeast known as Tinea versicolor may be responsible for the white patches on your son’s feet. White patches or spots caused by such as yeast infection can be found on the feet, arms, chest and back and are more common during the hot and humid months of summer or if a person perspires profusely or has oily skin. Anti-fungal medications and creams are used to successfully treat the infection.
- Psoriasis and Vitiligo: If you find that the white patches on the feet are becoming larger or spreading to other areas of the body, it may be a sign that this is a chronic skin condition such as psoriasis or vitiligo. Other signs of psoriasis include red scaly patches of skin, dry itchy skin or pus filled blisters. Vitiligo is a skin condition where the natural pigmentation of the skin diminishes over time as the cells become unable to produce the melanin required to pigment the skin. Unfortunately, there is still no known cure for vitiligo though treatment can be administered to slow down the loss of pigmentation.
- Other Causes: Other possible causes include poor diet or malnutrition, lack of zinc in his diet, stress and anxiety and poor hygiene.
- Include more leafy green vegetables and fresh fruit in his diet to increase the amounts of antioxidants.
- Make sure he observes proper hygiene and keeps himself clean at all times. Special care should be taken to keep the feet dry and clean and to wear the proper footwear.
- Apply a layer of petroleum jelly to the feet after they have been cleaned and dried. This prevents dry and cracked skin and reduces the risk of skin infections
- Protect the skin for exposure to the sun and always wear sunscreen when stepping out (even on the feet)
answered by A S