At what age is vitiligo likely to occur?
Vitiligo can occur at any stage of life, and all races and age-groups are vulnerable to it equally. However, there are certain populations in which the incidence is around 16%, while globally it is currently at 1% overall. The most commonly affected areas are the face, hands, neck, back and wrists. Often viewed as a stigma, it is a condition that brings about a tremendous amount of stress and even embarrassment that may spiral into depression and low self-esteem issues. Although vitiligo may cause great psychological stress and embarrassment, there is no physical pain from the condition. The only physical symptom may be itching, and this occurs only in the minority of cases.
What are the symptoms and course of the disease?
The presence of pale and patched areas on the extremities of the body or other areas of the skin which develop into noticeable lesions is a clear indication of the disease. Vitiligo usually begins as a singular spot that spreads to other areas of the body, and depending on the type, it may develop into larger patches. Vitiligo is most noticeable among people with a tanned or darker complexion. The increase in spots is noticed as they merge into one another, until larger or most areas of the body are covered with white patches.?The spread of vitiligo is usually slow and progressive. Vitiligo spots can vary in size, shape, intensity of the loss of color and in the profile of their distribution. Vitiligo often becomes a chronic skin condition, while in some cases it may even resolve on its own.