Pigmentation is a continuous process in skin responsible for skin coloration. Two known problems in this process are depigmentation and hyper-pigmentation.
More common example of depigmentation is the skin condition leucoderma. In leucoderma a loss of pigmentation take place in one or various parts of skin due to the damage to skin pigment producing cells called melanocytes. In other words leucoderma is a deficiency of pigment or pigment forming cells in a certain part of skin.
Leucoderma and Vitiligo
Both leucoderma and vitiligo are the same disease name and vitiligo is normally used in western world where as leucoderma is used in Asian countries like India.
http://www.antivitiligo.com/frequently-asked-questions.html
In leucoderma melanocytes skin cells are damaged by some internal abnormal action in skin by its own auto immune system. what are the root causes of the disease, it is not fully understood and no acceptable method to explore this fact has yet been discovered. Such facts make leucoderma a serious skin disease. However it is quite harmless skin disease in the sense that it is not pre cancerous disorder nor a contagious skin disease which can transmit from one person to other.
