Leucoderma simply means “white skin” — patches of skin that are lighter than the surrounding skin. The most common cause is vitiligo, but several other conditions look similar and are treated differently, so a proper diagnosis comes first. None of the common causes is contagious. Ayurveda describes white patches as Shvitra or Kilasa.
Skin colour comes from melanin, made by cells called melanocytes. White patches appear when these cells are lost (as in vitiligo), when they make less pigment (as after inflammation), or when a surface condition such as a fungal infection blocks pigment. Patches are more noticeable — and more socially distressing — on darker skin, and people with white patches in India often face stigma rooted in misunderstanding.
| Condition | Typical look | Other clues |
|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo | Chalk- or milk-white, sharp edges, no scaling | Often symmetrical — around eyes, mouth, hands, feet, joints; hairs may turn white; sensation normal. See vitiligo |
| Pityriasis alba | Faint, off-white, slightly dry patches | Children's faces; often with dry skin or eczema; fades by itself |
| Pityriasis versicolor | Pale or light-brown patches with fine scale | Upper back, chest, neck; worse in heat and sweat; a fungal infection that responds to antifungal treatment |
| After inflammation | Pale areas where a rash, burn or injury healed | Usually recover colour slowly over months |
| Leprosy | Pale or reddish patch, not pure white | Reduced or lost feeling in the patch; may be dry and hairless — needs testing |
| Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis | Small, round, white spots | Shins and forearms of older adults; harmless |
Response is slow and varies — the face and neck respond best, hands and feet least. Vitiligo is linked with thyroid disease, so a thyroid test is often advised.
Classical texts describe Shvitra (also Kilasa) as white or reddish patches without discharge, grouped with skin diseases but described separately because it is not contagious in the usual sense and affects only the skin's colour. Incompatible foods, suppressed natural urges, and unethical conduct are listed among causes — reflecting the thinking of the time rather than modern understanding. Treatment combines purification (shodhana), blood-purifying herbs, and applications followed by controlled sun exposure.
Other herbs used include Khadira, Manjishtha, Neem and Haridra. Evidence for Ayurvedic vitiligo treatment is limited. Report side effects to the Ministry of Ayush pharmacovigilance programme, and use licensed products only.
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Reviewed against NHS: Vitiligo, NHS: Pityriasis versicolor, the WHO fact sheet on leprosy, NCCIH: Ayurvedic Medicine, and Ministry of Ayush pharmacovigilance. These links support education and do not replace individual medical advice.