1. Our skin has colour forming cells called melanocytes.
2. In vitiligo, our immunity starts attacking these colour forming cells.
3. Loss of colour forming cells leads to loss of pigment production in skin
4. This leads to white colour in skin where colour forming cells were killed. This condition is called vitiligo or Leucoderma.

Vitiligo has one prominent identifying symptom

• Appearance of small white patches on the skin
• initially regular and might become irregular as size increases indicating disease spread.
• This condition is not painful or itchy
• Appearance of white patches may make a person feel self-conscious, especially if present on visible places

According to Ayurveda

This disease is described as Shwet kushth in Ayurveda. Following are the causes according to Ayurveda texts.

• Consuming foods with opposing properties at the same time, such as using Yogurt with Milk, Fish with Milk or achar (Pickle) with Milk , Honey with Ghee (Butter), Milk with salt, Milk with fruits specially Vitamin C containing fruits. These are opposite foods and if taken together, they produce slow toxins in our body.
• Using cold drinks and cold water when you are in stress or after intense physical activity.

Non-segmental vitiligo: This is the most common type of vitiligo and results in white patches appearing on both sides of the body. Usually it starts near the hands, around the eyes or mouth, on the feet, or in an area of the body where the skin rubs together frequently.

Segmental vitiligo (Unilateral vitiligo): This type of vitiligo usually starts when a person is young.