• White patches of skin on exposed areas of the body (often occur symmetrically, for example on both knees)
• Some people may lose all their pigmentation, while others may only have a few spots of lost colour
• Hair may also go grey in patches
• Usually starts before the age of 20
• May come and go or lay dormant for periods of up to a year

In vitiligo, the cells stop producing melanin which gives the skin and hair its colour. The direct cause of this is not known, although it is suspected that it is hereditary, and that emotional stress may play a role in its development. Another possibility is that vitiligo is an auto-immune disease (i.e. one in which the body attacks its own cells, perceiving them as foreign).

Vitiligo is not dangerous, but it is sometimes linked with other diseases or disorders such as thyroid problems, pernicious anaemia, Addison's disease (decreased adrenal gland function), and alopecia areata (hair loss in patches).

Your naturopath can prescribe treatments for vitiligo, which may include high doses of certain minerals and B group vitamins. Supportive therapies for the liver are also a common part of the treatment plan.