Vitiligo Symptoms and Growth Patterns

Like any other disease, it is important to keep a watch on any unordinary signs or symptoms that may lead to Vitiligo. The earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances for treatment and cure become.

Symptoms and signs of vitiligo?

1. Sudden discoloration in any part of the body leaving milky white patches on the skin.
2. Premature whitening of scalp hair, eyebrows & eyelids and beards.
3. Loss of color in the tissues inside ones’ mouth or inner layer of the eyes.

Even though the second & third points are not as common but keeping an eye on any similar changes in ones’ body can reduce the risks of acquiring Vitiligo.

The discoloration often affects areas that are directly exposed to sunlight such as the hands, feet, arms, face and lips. Other areas to that may get affected with Vitiligo are,

• Armpits
• Around the lips
• Navel
• Nostrils
• Genitals
• Eyes
• Rectal areas

This brings us to another important question: Will the depigmented patches spread?

Often times the de-pigmented patches initially occur as small spots dispersed in different areas of the skin. But it can never be guaranteed if they will spread in more areas or become larger in size. In some patients there is seen no growth of the discolored patches but in some, vitiligo spreads largely over the entire body.

A specific time bracket entailing the spread of these patches cannot be determined either since sometimes the growth may occur after years of the first occurrence whereas sometimes, rapid growth within a short span of time can be seen.