The disease may begin at one or more regions, the backs of the hands, trunk and face being favorite parts; its appearance is usually insidious, and the spots may not be especially noticeable until they are the size of a pea or larger. The patches grow slowly, are milky or dead white, smooth, non-elevated, and of rounded outline; the bordering skin is darker than normal, showing increased pigmentation. Several contiguous spots may coalesce and form a large, irregularly-shaped patch. Hair growing on the involved skin may or may not be blanched.
There are no subjective symptoms.
What course does vitiligo pursue?
The course of the disease is slow, months and sometimes years elapsing before it reaches conspicuous development. It may after a time remain stationary, or, in rare instances, retrogress; as a rule, however, it is progressive. Exceptionally, the greater part, or even the whole surface may eventually be involved.
Give the etiology of vitiligo.
Disturbed innervation is thought to be influential. The disease develops often without apparent cause. Alopecia areata and morphœa have been observed associated with it.
Fig. 36.
Vitiligo.
State the pathology of vitiligo.