Segmental Vitiligo — Unilateral Dermatomal Distribution
Placeholder: segmental vitiligo follows a single-sided skin segment.
- 1: Body sides affected (Placeholder unilateral)
- <20: Typical onset age (Placeholder early onset)
- High: Dermatome match (Placeholder nerve pattern)
- ~10%: Prevalence share (Placeholder of all vitiligo)
Unilateral dermatomal distribution
Placeholder: patch boundary tracks a cutaneous dermatome closely.
Segmental Vitiligo — Early Onset and Rapid Stabilization
Placeholder: segmental disease tends to stop spreading within a year or two.
- 6-24mo: Stabilization time (Placeholder typical window)
- Low: Relapse rate (Placeholder after stabilizing)
- Common: Hair involvement (Placeholder poliosis)
- High: Response to graft (Placeholder surgical success)
Rapid stabilization course
Placeholder: growth halts early, leaving a fixed unilateral patch.
Non-Segmental Vitiligo — Bilateral Symmetric Distribution
Placeholder: non-segmental vitiligo appears as mirrored bilateral patches.
- 2: Body sides affected (Placeholder bilateral)
- ~90%: Prevalence share (Placeholder of all vitiligo)
- High: Symmetry (Placeholder mirrored patches)
- Strong: Autoimmune link (Placeholder comorbidity)
Bilateral symmetric distribution
Placeholder: patches emerge on corresponding sites on both sides.
Non-Segmental Vitiligo — Progressive Lifelong Course
Placeholder: non-segmental disease relapses and spreads over decades.
- Lifelong: Course length (Placeholder chronic relapsing)
- Gradual: Spread pattern (Placeholder new patches over years)
- Frequent: Koebner sign (Placeholder trauma-triggered)
- Rare: Spontaneous repigment (Placeholder limited recovery)
Progressive lifelong spread
Placeholder: new symmetric patches accumulate slowly with age.
Treatment Strategy Differs By Vitiligo Type
Placeholder: stable segmental disease favors surgery, active non-segmental favors medical therapy.
- Grafting: Segmental first-line (Placeholder surgical repigmentation)
- Phototherapy: Non-segmental first-line (Placeholder NB-UVB)
- Non-seg only: Systemic therapy (Placeholder immunomodulation)
- Stability: Graft success driver (Placeholder disease quiescence)
Type-directed treatment choice
Placeholder: stability and pattern guide surgical vs medical therapy.
Placeholder: matching treatment to vitiligo type improves outcomes.