It is a skin disease characterized by loss of pigment (color) from areas of skin, resulting in irregular white patches that feel like normal skin.
Causes, incidence and risk factors
It appears that vitiligo is an acquired disease and can occur at any age. There is an increasing proportion of this condition in some families.
The cause of vitiligo, but it is thought that autoimmunity could be a factor. This condition is associated with three systemic diseases:
* Pernicious Anemia
* Hypothyroidism
* Addison’s Disease
The disease affects about 1% of the population of the United States.
Symptoms
Vitiligo is more noticeable in darker skinned people because of the contrast of white patches against dark skin
There is a sudden or gradual appearance of flat areas of normal-feeling skin with complete pigment loss. Lesions appear as flat areas with no pigment and darker edge, as margins are sharply defined but irregular.
Frequently affected areas are the face, elbows, knees, hands, feet and genitals.
