Vitiligo is a condition in which patches of skin lose pigment, leaving lighter spots. Learn more about types of vitiligo as well as available treatments. Vitiligo , also called ‘leucoderma’, is a long-term (chronic) skin condition that causes an area of the skin to lose its colour (pigmentation). Melanocytes (the skin cells that make pigment) which results in the area looking white or pink in appearance. Vitiligo is a common, often inherited disorder characterized by areas of well-defined, milky white skin. People with vitiligo may have eye abnormalities and also have a higher incidence of thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, and pernicious anemia. Vitiligo affects about 1-2% of the world's population. It is more easily observed in sun-exposed areas of the body and in darker skin types, but it affects any area of the body and all races. Vitiligo seems to affect men and women equally, although ... Vitiligo occurs when cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning . Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with brown or Black skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself.
