noun
Medical term for a skin condition causing loss of pigment. The word literally means 'white catfish', from the resemblance of white patches to a catfish's pale belly.
白癜は皮膚の色素が抜ける病気です。
Vitiligo is a condition where the skin loses its pigment.
彼は白癜の治療
He is receiving treatment for vitiligo.
Katakana variant occasionally seen in informal contexts.
A more formal medical term for vitiligo, often used in clinical settings.
Compound of 白 (しろ, 'white') and 癜 (なまず, 'catfish'), referring to the white patches resembling a catfish's pale underside. The exact origin of the metaphorical extension is uncertain.