Vitiligo :
Vitiligo a painless condition where the patient loses his skin pigmentation. Its a condition where the patients own immune system attacks the melanin producing mealnocytes, leading to formation of patches. People affected with addison's disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes [type 1], psoriasis have a higher chance of developing the condition. The patches spread through out the body including oral, nasal, genital mucous membranes.
Hair present in the affected patches also loses color and turns silver. A UV lamp known as Wood's lamp is used by dermatologist to examine the skin to differentiate it from other diseases. At times it is confused with albinism. Light therapy is used to re pigment the affected skin. Corticosteroids can be used for medical management. It does have a genetic association in occurrence. There is no way to prevent this condition but it can be managed with expertise.