Which skin condition is characterized by light patches caused by loss of pigment, sometimes resulting from burns or congenital diseases?

The skin condition characterized by light patches caused by a loss of pigment is known as leukoderma. This term broadly refers to any condition characterized by white or light areas of skin due to a decrease in melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. Leukoderma can arise from various factors, including burns, as well as certain congenital diseases.

While vitiligo is also a condition that results in lighter skin patches due to the loss of melanocytes, it is specifically a skin disorder that often presents with around defined areas rather than a generalized loss of pigment as seen with leukoderma. Chloasma, also known as melasma, refers to brown patches on the skin often related to hormonal changes, particularly during pregnancy, and does not involve loss of pigment. Albinism is a genetic condition leading to little or no melanin production, but it is a broader condition affecting the entire body rather than localized patches as seen in leukoderma.

Understanding leukoderma enables professionals to recognize and differentiate it from other skin conditions that also affect pigmentation.