Vitiligo in a young woman

Case history

A 26-year-old woman had a three-year history of irregular white macules appearing gradually and symmetrically on her face (eyelids and perioral area), neck, dorsal hands and fingers, arms and legs, with a few on her trunk and buttocks. Her complexion was olive, making the macules more unsightly.

There was no family history of similar problems, nor any personal or family history of thyroid problems, pernicious anaemia, diabetes mellitus or other autoimmune diseases. She worked in an office and gave no history of exposure to relevant chemicals.