Vitiligo is a common skin condition in which areas of skin tend to lose their color due to the destruction of pigment-producing cells. It affects about 1100 in every 100,000 people in the United States. It affects people of all skin colors but is more noticeable in those with darker skin. While not life-threatening, it causes significant sun sensitivity and can cause significant psychological or emotional distress for many. Let’s talk more about it.
What Is Vitiligo?
Our skin contains cells calle
d melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color). Vitiligo occurs when melanocytes are destroyed or stop functioning. This causes loss of pigmentation in patches of the skin. These depigmented patches can vary in size and may appear on any part of the body, including the face, hands, and feet.
d melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color). Vitiligo occurs when melanocytes are destroyed or stop functioning. This causes loss of pigmentation in patches of the skin. These depigmented patches can vary in size and may appear on any part of the body, including the face, hands, and feet.Vitiligo usually begins with a few small lighter patches that develop on the skin. These patches may stay the same size for years or grow larger. New patches can appear on the skin, which may be close to existing patches or far from them. The most common type of vitiligo (non-segmental vitiligo) tends to spread slowly with new patches developing off and on throughout a person’s life.
What Causes Vitiligo?
The exact cause of vitiligo is still not fully understood, but researchers believe it involves a combination of genetic, environmental, and autoimmune factors. Here are the most widely accepted theories:
- Autoimmune factors – In many cases, vitiligo occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes.
- Genetics – A family history of vitiligo or other autoimmune diseases (such as thyroid disease or lupus) may increase your risk of developing the condition.
- Environmental triggers – Physical trauma, sunburn, exposure to certain chemicals, or extreme stress may act as triggers for vitiligo in people who are already genetically predisposed.
Who Gets Vitiligo?
Vitiligo can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or skin tone. You are more likely to get vitiligo if you have the autoimmune, genetic, or environmental factors that I mentioned above.
Although vitiligo affects people of all skin tones equally, it tends to be more noticeable in individuals with darker skin due to the contrast between the depigmented patches and the surrounding skin. It may also be more noticeable in the summer months or warmer climates due to tanning of the skin from greater sun exposure.
What Are the Symptoms of Vitiligo?
The main symptom of vitiligo is the appearance of light white or pink patches on the skin. These patches are typically:
- Flat and smooth without any change in skin texture.
- Symmetrical, often appearing on both sides of the body (though not always).
- Most commonly found on sun-exposed areas like the hands, arms, and face, but they can appear anywhere.
In some cases, vitiligo may also affect mucous membranes (such as inside the mouth), hair (resulting in premature whitening/graying), or even the eyes or eyelashes.
Is Vitiligo Contagious?
No, vitiligo is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. It is a medical condition that occurs due to internal factors, not external transmission.
Next week, we will continue our conversation about vitiligo, focusing on diagnosis and treatment of this common condition.
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Dr. Anita Bennett MD – Health Tip Content Editor