Why the sun may be the cause of those white spots on your skin

After a pleasant beach vacation, you not only bring back memories but also a vacation tan. Yes, we can all identify!However, after a beach vacation, have you seen white spots on your skin, particularly on your face? White spots, whether or not you're on a beach vacation, can also show up after spending a lot of time in the sun.These sunspots are small, flat, white patches that typically show up on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, like the face, arms, and legs. They don't spread widely and are often not irritating. All they do is sit there and leave you wondering what caused them.

This usually happens when prolonged sun exposure deprives the skin of pigmentation. It's common knowledge by now that the UV rays of the sun are harmful. Therefore, during this process, melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) may lose their function in certain areas, leading to white patches. These can appear not only on the face but also on the back and upper arms.“They are a harmless sign of long-term sun exposure, not a disease. It's more of a cosmetic than medical,” Dr Ridhima Arora, MD, dermatology, Radix Healthcare, tells India Today.