Vitiligo history and symptoms
Vitiligo Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Vitiligo history and symptoms On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Vitiligo history and symptoms |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Vitiligo history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Symptoms
Half of people with vitiligo develop patches of de-pigmented skin appearing on extremities before their 20s. The patches may grow, shrink, or remain constant in size. Patches often occur symmetrically across both sides on the body. Occasionally small areas may repigment as they are recolonised by melanocytes. The location of vitiligo affected skin changes over time, with some patches re-pigmenting and others becoming affected.
In some cases, mild trauma to an area of skin seems to cause new patches - for example around the ankles (caused by friction with shoes or sneakers). Vitiligo may also be caused by stress that affects the immune system, leading the body to react and start eliminating skin pigment.
Vitiligo on the scalp may affect the color of the hair (though not always), leaving white patches or streaks. It will similarly affect facial and body hair.
The following list of symptoms mentioned from various sources includes the 23 mentioned below:
- Hand white patches
- Feet white patches
- Arm white patches
- Face white patches
- Lip white patches
- Armpit white patches
- Chest white patches
- Back white patches
- Shoulders white patches
- Groin white patches
- White patches around the mouth
- White patches around the eyes
- Nostril white patches
- Navel white patches
- Genital white patches
- Mucous membrane white patches
- Rectal white patches
- Uveitis
- Retina white patches
- Premature graying
- Gray scalp hair
- Gray eyelashes
- Gray eyebrows
- Gray beard
- Sun sensitivity