Most people who have vitiligo, if it is not related to another disease,
report feeling physically healthy.
The condition does not cause pain or irritation, but it often affects people's self-image, which can be emotionally distressing.
The primary symptom of vitiligo is patches of skin that lighten or turn white. It commonly affects sun-exposed areas first, including your face, lips, arms, hands, and feet.
Other vitiligo signs include:
Lightening of skin around your armpits and belly button (navel)
Premature (before the age 35) whitening or graying of your hair, including the hair on top of your head, eyelashes, or facial hair (such as eyebrows and beard)
Loss of color in your mucus membranes, including your lips or the tissues inside your mouth, nose, rectum, or genitals
Loss of color in your eye's retina (which may look like a change in color)
Vitiligo may also affect the pigment cells that are part of your inner-ear system, which can cause partial or total hearing loss.
Hearing loss isn't common with vitiligo, but tell your doctor about any hearing loss or changes, especially if you are under 40 years old.
Segmental vitiligo is also known as unilateral vitiligo. Symptoms include:
Patches that appear on one side and one limb of the body, such as one side of your face, or on one leg or arm
Loss of hair color, affecting the hair on your head, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other facial hair
Discolorations at an early age that progress for about a year and then stop
Learn about Symptoms and Causes of Vitiligo
The condition does not cause pain or irritation, but it often affects people's self-image, which can be emotionally distressing.
The primary symptom of vitiligo is patches of skin that lighten or turn white. It commonly affects sun-exposed areas first, including your face, lips, arms, hands, and feet.
Other vitiligo signs include:
Lightening of skin around your armpits and belly button (navel)
Premature (before the age 35) whitening or graying of your hair, including the hair on top of your head, eyelashes, or facial hair (such as eyebrows and beard)
Loss of color in your mucus membranes, including your lips or the tissues inside your mouth, nose, rectum, or genitals
Loss of color in your eye's retina (which may look like a change in color)
Vitiligo may also affect the pigment cells that are part of your inner-ear system, which can cause partial or total hearing loss.
Hearing loss isn't common with vitiligo, but tell your doctor about any hearing loss or changes, especially if you are under 40 years old.
Segmental vitiligo is also known as unilateral vitiligo. Symptoms include:
Patches that appear on one side and one limb of the body, such as one side of your face, or on one leg or arm
Loss of hair color, affecting the hair on your head, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other facial hair
Discolorations at an early age that progress for about a year and then stop
Learn about Symptoms and Causes of Vitiligo
