Definition

The complete loss of natural color producing flat, sharply defined, milk-white patches on the skin.

Clinical Details

Without living melanocytes to synthesize and distribute melanin pigment, the affected skin layers become completely translucent, revealing only the pale tissue beneath. These bright white patches frequently appear symmetrically on both sides of the body, particularly around the mouth, eyes, fingers, and wrists. The stark contrast between normal and affected skin causes extreme psychological distress for many patients.