If your face is developing white blotches after some time in the pool, it could be a number of common skin conditions. The combination of water, pool chemicals, sunscreen and sweat may mean that you're developing a type of fungal infection. But it also might be a common skin discoloration that manifests as white or dark patches. Contact your doctor before treating that patches to ensure you have a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.
Fungal Infection
If you swim with goggles and a cap, the combination of sweat and pressure on your skin may make it vulnerable to a fungal infection, either tinea versicolor or a yeast infection. The key difference is that tinea versicolor causes patches of many colors -- white, red or dark brown -- to appear on your face. Sun exposure makes the white patches more readily apparent. The infection is easily treated with over-the-counter fungal medication after your doctor accurately diagnoses it. You may require more aggressive anti-fungal medication, either topically or in pill form, if the infection does not clear with over-the-counter treatment.
Irritated Skin
If the patches appear in a creases prone to trapping sweat, you may have a flare-up of eczema. With eczema, the area becomes irritated and slightly raised, appearing lighter than skin next to it. If you suffer from allergies or have asthma, your skin may be prone to this type of irritation. Use a strong moisturizer and consult your doctor if the patches increase in size or more appear on your face.
Diseases
Two diseases may also cause white blotches to appear on your face after being in the pool. Neither is directly linked to swimming, but both require proper treatment to minimize the condition. Vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder, and psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, can both cause white patches. Vitiligo manifests as a slow loss of pigmentation of the skin all over your body. While no cure exists, you can work with your health care team to slow its progression. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that may be painful. Working with your health-care team, identify triggers and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, that may minimize flare-ups.
Considerations
If you regularly wear sun screen when you're poolside, the white blotches may be an allergic reaction. While this is more typically a red, itchy rash common with contact dermatitis, your response may differ. Switch sunscreens to see if the blotches disappear. While sun screen is important, if you regularly go out in the sun without a hat, you may have sun damage that can manifest as white blotches. In this case, the skin cells on your face are overexposed to the sun and stop producing melanin, leaving the affected cells empty of natural color. The damage may be irreversible, but your dermatologist can best guide you to resolve the blotches.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Tinea Versicolor: Symptoms; February 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Tinea Versicolor: Treatments and Drugs; February 2010
- MayoClinic.com; White Patch on Skin: a Cause for Concern?; Dr. Lawrence Gibson; December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Psoriasis: Definition; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Vitiligo: Definition; April 2009
- BeveryHillsDermatology.com: Sun Damage
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