Is there a connection between vitiligo and alopecia (hair loss)?
Yes, there is a connection between vitiligo and alopecia areata. People with vitiligo have an increased risk of developing this autoimmune form of hair loss.
According to estimates, 3 percent to 8 percent of people with alopecia areata also have vitiligo Show Full Answer
Is there a connection between vitiligo and alopecia (hair loss)?
Yes, there is a connection between vitiligo and alopecia areata. People with vitiligo have an increased risk of developing this autoimmune form of hair loss.
According to estimates, 3 percent to 8 percent of people with alopecia areata also have vitiligo. Both conditions are autoimmune diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body.
Additionally, vitiligo itself can cause hair to lose its color in affected areas. If hair grows from skin patches affected by vitiligo, that hair may turn gray, white, or silver. This can happen anywhere you have hair, including:
* Scalp
* Beard
* Eyelashes
* Eyebrows
There are three types of alopecia areata:
* Patchy hair loss (most common) - usually on the head and face
* Alopecia totalis - loss of most hair on the head
* Alopecia universalis - loss of most or all body hair
Like vitiligo, alopecia areata has no cure, though hair sometimes grows back on its own. Some treatments may help with regrowth, and many people choose wigs or other hair coverings.
December 31, 2025
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Join
Your Privacy Choices
