Which condition is characterized by light, abnormal patches of depigmented skin?

The condition characterized by light, abnormal patches of depigmented skin is vitiligo. Vitiligo occurs when the melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that gives color to the skin), are destroyed or cease functioning. This results in distinct areas of lighter skin that can vary in size and location. Vitiligo is often progressive, meaning that it can expand over time.

Leukoderma, while often used interchangeably with vitiligo, specifically refers to light skin or the loss of skin pigmentation. It encompasses several conditions, one of which is vitiligo. Thus, while leukoderma describes a broader category of skin lightening, vitiligo is a specific condition that fits the description of abnormal patches of depigmented skin most accurately.

Erythema refers to redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow, typically as a result of inflammation or irritation, and does not involve depigmentation. Hypopigmentation indicates a reduction in skin color but is a more general term that may include various conditions and is not specific to light patches.

Choosing vitiligo enables the most precise identification of the condition that primarily features these distinct, depigmented patches on the skin.