Vitiligo is a common skin condition that causes an individual to develop white visible patches on their skin. The white patches are a result of loss of pigmentation from parts of skin due to unknown reasons. It occurs more commonly on the areas that are exposed to the sun such as face, neck and hands.

Appearance

Vitiligo appears as flat, white spots or patches on your skin and it can affect any part of the body. The first white patch usually develops on the skin which has been exposed to the sun. The patches often appear on both sides of the body resembling each other in pattern and location. The common areas affected by this condition are face, lips, hands, arms, legs and genitals.

The condition is more noticeable in people with darker skin tones but it does not mean that lighter skinned people are not affected by it. In case of light skinned people the white patches are more noticeable in summer because of the tanned skin. The degree of pigment loss differs within each patch of white skin in an individual. The cycle of pigment loss continues in some cases or it stops in some for unknown reasons. And it is extremely rare that the skin pigment will return to normal on its own.