What does Vitiligo look like? How does it start out??

Is there anyone with it out there? I am 19 and I live in Florida...I am outside a lot and I am always really tan. I just started going to the this tanning bed where you stand up. The last two times I notices these spolches all over my legs that did not tan, they aren't white they just didn't tan. Do I have Vitiligo? Could it just be the tanning lotion I am using? Or the tanning bed? I am really worried!

Actually Linni, vitiligo is not genetic. Nor does it always turn completely milky white.

I'm 14 and have had it for 3 years. It is not known for sure but some of the likely causing are severe sunburn or sun exposure. it could be the tanning lotion going splotchy, if you are really worried and it doesnt go away visit a doctor and get a referal to a good dermotoligist. In the meantime a tanning bed is not advisable because if it is vitiligo , the splotches will become much more noticeable as the area around it tans.

My vitiligo started out as small areas that just werent as tanned as the rest of my skin. at this stage it wasnt completly white but it progressed to a stage where it became very noticeable.

i sincerely hope you dont have vitiligo as it is a pain and can make you feel very selfconcious.

vitiligo is a total absence of skin pigment on a certain area of skin. So, that area will be totally white, like milk. Usually patchy with irregular edges, and flat. I've seen a lot of it on hands, but not too sure about other parts of the body. It's genetic.

It might not be Vitiligo,There is something called Tinea versicolor and it usually appears on the shins and other body parts but not the face...it is caused by a type of a skin fungus...it does cause discloration patches as well and is noticed more when tanning.Selsun blue shampoo can be applied to areas ..leave on for 30 mins or so then wash off..do that about a week and see if there is any difference if not go to a dermatlogist.It wont be cured in a week no matter what,,,it takes a while to cure even with a rx cream or lotion

Termed in the south "Michael Jackson Disease"