Vitiligo is a common, genetic, autoimmune skin disease in which there is loss of pigment from areas of the skin resulting in irregular white spots or patches. The skin has normal texture. Vitiligo may appear at any age. Although it is a progressive condition, many people experience years or decades without developing new spots.

Key points for diagnosis
(1) The skin lesions are often seen in the exposing regions of the face, neck, dorsum of the hand, and forearm and in the skin creases of the external genitalia.

(2) The skin lesions exist independently or symmetrically, and can also be distributed along the nervous segments or in a form of band along the unilateral side of the body, and also on the whole body.

(3) The pigment is completely lost in the region of the skin lesions, in cream color, different size of the shape and clear margin. The color of hair in the infected areas become white usually and can also be normal.

(4) In the progressive stage, the margins of the  white plaques are not clear. Local irritation by pressure, friction, exposure to sunlight and traumatic injury can promote appearance of white plaques.

(5) In the stabilizing stage, the margins of the white plaques are clear, with pigment increased on the margins or appearance of island-like pigment region along the hair pores inside the white plaques.

(6) The duration is chronic. The skin lesions can disappear or appear again with the change of the seasons, and can subside automatically in a few cases.

(7) There is no spontaneous symptom.

(8) It can be complicated with thyropathy, malignant anemia, diabetes, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata, etc.