Understanding Vitiligo: Appearance, Causes, and Progression

Vitiligo appears as smooth, white patches with irregular borders caused by a complete absence of melanocytes. While typically more visible on darker skin, the discolouration is typically noticeable at any stage of the disorder. Over time, existing spots of vitiligo may get larger or completely connect with nearby patches. However, new spots of vitiligo do not often develop.

While most commonly found on sun-exposed areas like the face, trunk, hands, fingers, feet, elbows, knee, and lower legs, vitiligo can appear anywhere on the body including skin on and around your mouth, nostrils, navel, genitals, or rectum, inside your mouth, as well as your hair (scalp/eyelashes/eyebrows), eyelashes, and irises. When vitiligo starts to impact colour of hair turning it prematurely light grey or white it is commonly referred to as poliosis.