What are the white patches on the skin referred to as?

The term that refers to white patches on the skin is vitiligo. This condition occurs when the melanin-producing cells, known as melanocytes, are either destroyed or cease to function, leading to a loss of pigmentation in certain areas of the skin. As a result, these areas appear as white patches that can vary in size and tend to spread over time.

Vitiligo can affect any part of the body and is often most noticeable on the hands, face, arms, and around body openings such as the eyes and mouth. While the exact cause of vitiligo is not fully understood, it is believed to involve an autoimmune response, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the melanocytes.

In contrast, leukoderma refers to a broader category of skin conditions that cause loss of pigmentation but is not used exclusively for the white patches characteristic of vitiligo. Melasma is a skin condition that causes brown or gray-brown patches, typically on the face, and is associated with hormonal changes and sun exposure. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches that result from an accelerated skin cell cycle, not white patches. Thus, vitiligo is the most accurate term to describe the white patches on the