Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease with episodes of activity and stability. Mononuclear 
cells infiltrate the vitiliginous skin with subsequent destruction of melanocytes are the hallmarks of 
vitiligo. Aim: to evaluate the mononuclear cell infiltrate in active vitiligo. Patients and methods: 30 
active vitiligo patients were recruited, then perilesional, lesional and nonlesional skin were obtained 
and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Results: The perilesional infiltrate was significantly higher 
in count than lesional and nonlesional ones. Also, the lesional infiltrate was significantly higher than 
nonlesional infiltrate. Conclusion: Perilesional skin of active vitiligo is by far the most representative 
area for the inflammatory infiltrate where active melanocytes destruction takes place.