In certain difficult cases, a skin biopsy may be required to exclude some of the above. A defining feature is that pigment cells in the skin are absent in vitiligo. Vitiligo is sometimes associated with general diseases. Associated cutaneous conditions include white hair and prematurely grey hair, alopecia areata, and halo nevi. There is no increased risk for malignancy.
Vision is unaffected.
There are no important hearing changes. Vitiligo is a chronic disease process. Its course is highly variable and unpredictable, but rapid onset followed by a period of stability or low progression is most characteristic. All rights reserved. Information provided on the American Vitiligo Research Foundation website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.