Vitiligo and Military Service: Fitness Category Under Article 62
Reviewed by the LabReadAI medical team
The short answer: with vitiligo, conscription depends on the size and number of patches. Vitiligo is the one condition in article 62 of the Schedule of Diseases for which the regulation abandoned body-surface percentages and set its own measurable criteria: centimetres and counts. The extensive form yields category V in column I, the limited form B-3.
Which fitness category vitiligo yields
| What the records show | Clause | Column I (conscription) | Column III (contract) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extensive and total forms of vitiligo and alopecia areata | «g» | V — limited fitness | A |
| Limited forms of vitiligo and alopecia areata | «d» | B-3 — fit with restrictions | A |
One detail is often missed: in column III both forms give A. For contract service or a military academy, vitiligo by itself is generally not an obstacle — the regulation treats it as cosmetically significant but not functionally limiting.
What article 62 says about vitiligo, verbatim
Clause «g» lists, alongside the dermatoses:
…extensive and total forms of alopecia areata and vitiligo
Clause «d»:
…limited forms of alopecia areata and vitiligo
And the criterion of extent sits in the explanatory notes:
An extensive form of vitiligo means multiple (3 or more) depigmented patches on the skin of different anatomical regions, each at least 10 cm across. The extensive form also includes foci of vitiligo on the face (2 or more), each at least 3 cm in diameter.
Extensive or limited vitiligo: size and number of patches
Two independent routes follow from that wording:
- On the body — at least three patches, each at least 10 cm across, located in different anatomical regions. Three patches on one forearm do not qualify.
- On the face — two foci of 3 cm or more are enough. The facial threshold is markedly lower, which follows from visibility.
Anything below these thresholds counts as a limited form and falls under clause «d». So the dermatologist's conclusion must state measurements in centimetres and a list of anatomical regions, not a general phrase about "depigmented patches".
Alopecia areata: the same rule
The regulation places alopecia on the same line as vitiligo and sets its own numbers:
An extensive form of alopecia areata means multiple (3 or more) foci of baldness at least 10 cm in diameter each, and where the bald patches merge — absence of hair growth over more than 50 percent of the scalp.
The logic is identical: three foci from 10 cm, or loss over more than half the scalp, make the extensive form, clause «g» and category V in column I.
Is inpatient confirmation needed for vitiligo
The requirement to confirm a relapsing course in hospital is addressed to chronic dermatoses — psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, lichen planus. Vitiligo and alopecia are described through stable morphological features rather than flare frequency: a patch either exists at a given size or it does not. In practice this means the key document is a detailed dermatologist's report with measurements, not a discharge summary.
What your records must contain
- A dermatologist's report with measurements: how many foci, the width of each in centimetres, in which anatomical regions.
- Facial foci separately, with diameters: the 3 cm threshold applies to them.
- Photographic records over time, if any were taken: vitiligo changes, and a picture from two years ago may not match today.
- The words "extensive" or "limited" form stated explicitly.
- Any accompanying conditions: vitiligo often coexists with autoimmune thyroiditis, and it helps to know which tests check the thyroid.
What is usually missing
- No centimetres in the report — only the word "patches".
- No anatomical regions, so it is impossible to tell whether they differ.
- Facial foci are not singled out, although they have their own threshold.
- The description was made years ago and no longer reflects the current picture.
- Vitiligo is confused with other causes of skin colour change; examination settles it, not guesswork — a general overview is collected in the review of skin rashes and changes.
Questions for your doctor
- How many foci do I have and what is the width of each in centimetres?
- In how many different anatomical regions are they located?
- Are there facial foci, and what are their diameters?
- Under the criteria of article 62, is my form extensive or limited?
- Are the measurements written into the conclusion?
Skin conditions at departmental boards
The above concerns assessment under Government Decree No. 565. The Interior Ministry, National Guard, Federal Security Service and Emergencies Ministry use their own schedules of diseases, and their requirements for cosmetically significant conditions can be stricter. A review under article 62 shows the state of your records but is not their regulation.
The short version
Vitiligo is the rare case decided by a ruler: three patches from 10 cm in different regions, or two facial foci from 3 cm, make the extensive form, clause «g» and category V in column I. Anything smaller is a limited form and B-3. In column III both forms give A. The key document here is therefore not a discharge summary but a detailed dermatologist's report with measurements. Only the military medical board determines the fitness category.
For informational purposes only
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical guidance.