WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT vitiligo/white patches
vitiligo/white patches
Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin. It’s caused by the lack of melanin, which is the pigment in skin. white patches can affect any area of skin, but it commonly happens on the face, neck and hands, and in skin creases.
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How does vitiligo progress?
Vitiligo usually begins with a few small white patches that may gradually spread over the body over the course of several months. white patches typically begins on the hands, forearms, feet, and face but can develop on any part of the body, including the mucous membranes (moist lining of the mouth, nose, genital, and rectal areas), the eyes, and inner ears.
Sometimes the larger patches continue to widen and spread, but usually they stay in the same place for years. The location of smaller macules shifts and changes over time, as certain areas of skin lose and regain their pigments. white patches varies in the amount of skin affected, with some patients experiencing few depigmented areas and others with widespread loss of skin color.
What are the types of vitiligo?
- Generalized, which is the most common type, when macules appear in various places on the body.
- Segmental, which is restricted to one side of the body or one area, such as the hands or face.
- Mucosal, which affects mucous membranes of the mouth and/or the genitals.
- Focal, which is a rare type in which the macules are in a small area and do not spread in a certain pattern within one to two years.
- Trichome, which means that there is a white or colorless center, then an area of lighter pigmentation, and then an area of normally colored skin.
- Universal, another rare type of vitiligo, and one in which more than 80% of the skin of the body lacks pigment.