First symptoms of vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common, acquired skin disease, which is characterised by intense, outlined, depigmented, oval or round, continual or isolated lesions that are located in the body and vary in size. They are usually found in areas that are exposed to the sun, such as face, lips, hands, legs, arms.

Vitiligo can also be found in other body areas such as elbows, knees, breasts, torso and areas where the skin surrounds cavities such as around the eyes, the mouth, the navel, the genitals, the anus.

Leukotrichia (discolouration) is quite often observed in the eyebrows, the eye-lashes and generally in all the hairy parts of the body. The vitiligo patients’ skin doesn’t differ from healthy skin as far as touch and looks are concerned, apart from the colour of the lesions. Sometimes the lesions may be itchy and sweat excessively (hyperhidrosis).

Vitiligo is not an infectious or contagious disease, it does not cause other health issues and it doesn’t spread by physical contact. The white patches of vitiligo may appear in any area of the body, thus causing a severe impact on the psychology and quality of life of patients.