Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin, hair, and other areas of the body. This disease generally causes depigmentation, or the loss of skin pigment, when it first starts developing in individuals. Over time, this disease tends to mistakenly attack the healthy cells in the body. The condition can be diagnosed based on certain signs and symptoms. Read on to learn about some of the early symptoms of the condition.

Changes and inconsistencies in skin color
People with vitiligo observe certain skin patches on various areas of their body. These patches have skin that is different in color compared to other areas in the body. This is called depigmentation, which occurs in the early onset of this disease. Depigmentation occurs symmetrically on both sides of the body, typically on the elbows, face, knees, backs of hands and feet, and genital areas.

Depigmentation occurs depending on the kind of vitiligo a person is experiencing. For example, if one has early-stage localized vitiligo, one will have such patches only in a specific part of the body. However, if one has generalized vitiligo, the patches are scattered throughout the skin. In universal vitiligo, people suffer depigmentation so extensively across their body that it appears all their skin has lost color. Finally, non-segmental vitiligo, or the most common kind of the disease, causes patch patterns to develop symmetrically on both sides of the body.

This particular early sign is an important indicator of various immune system issues in people.

Premature whitening of hair
The key thing that vitiligo affects is pigment. Any part of the body that has a pigment of any sort providing it a certain hue is susceptible to vitiligo symptoms. One such bodily area is the hair. The cells that provide pigmentation to the hair get affected even in the initial stages of this disease. This is why even young people with vitiligo experience premature whitening of hair as the disease first shows symptoms in their bodies.

Premature graying or whitening of hair is also a sign of multiple other diseases, so people tend to ignore it or become cautious about other health conditions when this symptom shows.

Affected eyesight
The eyes also contain pigmentation cells that give them color and also aid vision in specific ways. These cells are attacked in the initial stages of the condition. This may also be marked by a person’s eyes losing their characteristic black, blue, hazel, or other kinds of color.

Additionally, a person’s vision may also be affected due to this symptom of vitiligo. Therefore, people need to be vigilant about these symptoms of the disease and visit their nearest healthcare center when these symptoms start showing. Though there is no cure for the condition yet, timely medical intervention can help manage the symptoms.