A vitiligo awareness campaign will be held in Udupi and Manipal on Saturday.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Satish Pai, Head of Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Kasturba Medical College, said vitiligo is a non-life threatening skin problem which leaves white patches on the skin.

It is a skin condition that does not cause symptoms such as itch or pain, but is owing to lack of melanocytes (skin colour producing cells).

Even though it is a disease of lack of skin colour, it can cause anxiety and depression to the patient owing to varied skin colours.

The Karnataka branch of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL KN), which observed World Vitiligo Day on June 25, started a vitiligo information awareness campaign in a vehicle called ‘vitiligo ratha’ on the same day from Bengaluru.

This ratha has already travelled 18 districts.

M. Dayananda, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, will flag of the ratha here on Saturday. It will then stop at Tiger Circle, City Bus Stand, and Service Bus Stand and then move to Mangaluru, Dr. Pai said.