Early Signs of Vitiligo - Dr Rajesh Shah M.D. (Hom.)

If you're trying to understand the early signs of vitiligo, you're in the right place. I’ve been treating vitiligo for over 30 years at my clinic in Chembur, Mumbai, and have cared for more than 20,000 patients. Over the decades, I’ve observed certain patterns that commonly appear in the early stages of this condition. In this section, I’m sharing some of those early signs based on real clinical experience along with case studies for better understanding. 

What Do Early Signs of Vitiligo Look Like?

1) Appearance of Depigmented Patches: The initial sign is often the emergence of milky-white or lighter patches on the skin. These patches are typically well-defined and may vary in shape and size.

2) Common Initial Areas: Early patches frequently appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, arms, feet, and around body openings like the mouth and eyes.

3) Symmetrical Distribution: In many cases, these patches develop symmetrically on both sides of the body, especially in non-segmental vitiligo.

4) Hair Depigmentation: There may be premature whitening or greying of hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard in the affected areas.

5) Mucosal Involvement: Loss of colour can also occur in mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth and nose.

6) Itching or Burning in Some Cases: Some people may feel mild itching, tingling, or a burning feeling on the skin before a white patch appears. But many people don't feel anything unusual in the beginning.

7) Progression Over Time: The patches may remain static or gradually increase in size and number over time.
Identifying these early signs is crucial for timely consultation with a vitiligo specialist doctor, which can lead to early diagnosis and management.

Before we analyse the early signs and symptoms of Vitiligo across different parts of the body, let's first understand what Vitiligo is.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from Vitiligo and Leucoderma. These are conditions characterized by the disappearance of color, which causes white patches on the skin that may cause emotional and psychological trauma to the patient. 

Vitiligo is a skin condition wherein the appearance of white patches occurs because melanocytes – cells responsible for producing pigment called melanin get destroyed. Vitiligo can be observed anywhere on the human body, including a person's face, limbs, feet & even the mouth interior. It affects people irrespective of their racial background, but it becomes more pronounced among those with dark skin.

Here I have explained some common signs of vitiligo on hands, back, face, arms, legs, lips, dark skin also in adults and Children

✅Early Signs of Vitiligo on Hands

1. Small white or light patches on fingers or knuckles
2. Loss of colour around nails or joints patches usually appear on both hands
3. Small white or light patches on fingers or knuckles
4. Skin feels normal or no rash or pain
5. Some people feel mild itching before a new patch

Read more about vitiligo on hands

✅Early Signs of Vitiligo on Back

1. Light-coloured spots usually appear near the spine or shoulders
2. Patches may be round or uneven in shape
3. Often goes unnoticed until the area is exposed to sunlight
4. No scaling or dryness on the skin
5. It may slowly spread to the upper or lower back

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo on the Face

1. White patches appear around the eyes, lips, or nose first
2. Corners of the mouth and eyelids are common early sites
3. Skin looks normal but loses colour
4. More noticeable in people with darker skin
5. It may start as one small spot and gradually increase

Read more about Vitiligo on face

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo in Adults

1. Light spots on hands, face, feet, or joints
2. Usually appears between the ages 20 and 40
3. Patches may grow slowly or stay the same for years
4. Some people report mild itching before a patch appears
5. More noticeable after sun exposure or skin injury

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo on Arms

1. Pale spots on elbows, forearms, or wrists
2. It may begin on one arm and appear later on the other
3. Often seen after skin friction or repeated pressure
4. Hair in the area may turn white
5. Skin texture stays smooth and soft

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo on Legs

1. White patches near knees, ankles, or calves
2. It often starts as a small spot and expands slowly
3. Usually painless and not itchy in the early stages
4. Visible contrast with the rest of the leg skin
5. It may be more noticeable in summer due to tanning

Read more about Vitiligo on legs

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo on Lips

1. Fading of colour on the border of the lips
2. Small white or pale areas that grow with time
3. May affect the upper, lower, or both lips
4. Can also involve the skin around the mouth
5. No cracking or pain, just a colour change

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo on Black or Dark Skin

1. White patches stand out more clearly
2. Common on face, hands, feet, and joints
3. Often mistaken for other skin issues at first
4. The borders of the patch are well-defined
5. Sun exposure can make the contrast more visible

✅ Early Signs of Vitiligo in Children

1. First seen as a white patch on the face, hands, or knees
2. Parents may notice colour changes during bathing or play
3. The child may not feel any discomfort
4. Can be mistaken for a fungal infection initially
5. Often more active and fast-spreading than adults

Top 5 Starting Symptoms of Vitiligo

Here, I have discussed some early symptoms of Vitiligo after examining more than 20,000 patients of Vitiligo personally from all over the world, especially from India.

• Vitiligo usually starts with small, pale, or white patches on the skin.
• These patches are lighter than the surrounding skin and may gradually increase in size.
• Common early spots include the face, hands, feet, around the eyes, and joints such as elbows and knees.
• The spots are generally well-defined and can be flat or slightly raised.
• Early patches often appear symmetrically on both sides of the body.
• Affected areas may be more sensitive to sunlight and prone to sunburn.
• Since vitiligo causes loss of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), these color changes are the primary early signs.

1) Spread Pattern: Symptoms of Vitiligo may vary from a single, tiny spot of depigmentation to 10-20 spots of moderate size to innumerable, large patches all over the body. 

Its spread may also vary from static to very slow or moderately to rapidly spreading. Underlying factors determine the size and extent of the spread. 

2) Appearance of Spots: The typical symptom of Vitiligo is a milky white depigmented spot or spots. They may vary from a single white spot to multiple places. 

The shape, too, is variable, round, or irregular. In some cases, generalized depigmentation is observed all over the body. It tends to start as a single spot and gradually grow in size and number. 

3) Common locations: It may present with a single or several spots on the limbs, abdomen, or back and then spread to other body parts. 

4) Hair Depigmentation: In some vitiligo patches, the hair may turn grey, suggesting a loss of melanin pigment at the roots.

5) Mucocutaneous involvement: In some cases, the patient shows affection for the mucocutaneous junctions such as fingertips, mouth corners, genital, and around the eyes. The spread of the disorder is usually slow and progressive. A symmetrical appearance on both sides of the body (say, legs, hands, etc.) is typical. In rare cases, Vitiligo spreads all over the body. Patients often worry if the disease spreads to the entire body, which rarely happens.

Written by Dr. Rajesh Shah, M.D. (Homeopathy)

Medically Reviewed by- Dr. Rupal Shah, M.D. (Homeopathy)

Updated on May 27, 2025

I've also included some trusted sources and references below that you can review for additional information.

• Max Healthcare: Understanding Vitiligo: Symptoms, Causes, Types and Risk Factors

• Dr. Lal PathLabs: Vitiligo: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

• Fortis Healthcare: Vitiligo Overview: Symptoms, Causes, Types, and Risks

• Medanta: Vitiligo Types, Symptoms, and Effective Treatment Options

• Mayo Clinic: Vitiligo Symptoms and Causes

• Cleveland Clinic: Vitiligo Overview

• American Academy of Dermatology: Vitiligo Symptoms

• National Health Portal of India: Vitiligo 

Written & Approved by-

Dr. Rajesh Shah

M.D. (Hom.)