Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes damage to the cells that produce pigment. Once this happens, patches of lighter skin may appear on your body. It’s not contagious — no one can “catch” vitiligo through physical contact, sexual activity, or sharing utensils with someone who has the condition.

“Not many people may know what vitiligo is,” one MyVitiligoTeam member said. “They might think it is a contagious disease, which makes hand-shaking awkward.”

Read on to discover more about vitiligo, including its causes, history, prevalence, and treatment options.

What Is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition. This means your immune system attacks healthy cells. In people with vitiligo, the immune system attacks and damages melanocytes, which are the cells that make pigment in your skin. That pigment is called melanin.

When patches of light skin develop, that’s called depigmentation. These white patches may appear quickly and can affect big sections of skin or very small areas.

The main symptom of vitiligo is skin discoloration. However, some people with vitiligo can also experience hearing loss, vision problems, and a greater risk for certain other autoimmune conditions.

What Causes Vitiligo?

Researchers believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to vitiligo. This means that someone may have a genetic likelihood of developing vitiligo, but depigmentation doesn’t occur until the person experiences a triggering event.

Genetic Factors

About 1 in 5 people with vitiligo have a close relative with the condition, but there’s no clear pattern of inheritance from parents. Researchers have identified several genes that can impact how your melanocytes function. More studies are needed to explore this connection and further research vitiligo’s causes.

Environmental Factors

Vitiligo may occur when someone genetically predisposed to developing it experiences an event that triggers the condition. Possible triggering events include sunburn, chemical exposure, emotional stress, or trauma to the skin — such as an injury.

The History of Vitiligo

Descriptions of what scholars believe is vitiligo appear in ancient texts. The earliest mention of vitiligo is believed to date back to approximately 1550 B.C.E in an Egyptian medical text called the Ebers Papyrus. Early descriptions of skin conditions that can be interpreted as vitiligo are also found in religious texts. These include the Hebrew Bible, the Hindu scripture Atharva Veda, the Quran, and a compilation of Shinto prayers from Japan.

The stigma associated with vitiligo and other skin conditions dates back to some of these early documents. Some references to white spots, which may have been vitiligo, were historically associated with leprosy. Those afflicted were considered unclean, and their skin was viewed as a sign of divine punishment.

European scientists in the second half of the 1800s greatly advanced the modern understanding of vitiligo. In the 1870s, Austrian scientist Moriz Kaposi first observed the lack of pigment in skin cells.

How Common Is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is estimated to impact between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the global population. Vitiligo is more common in certain geographic regions. For instance, one study found that vitiligo was most common in Jordan and least common in Sweden. While vitiligo may be more prominent in some parts of the world, anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sex, can develop vitiligo.

Types of Vitiligo

The two main types of vitiligo are nonsegmental vitiligo and segmental vitiligo. They both occur when the cells that create skin pigmentation are destroyed. But the two types show up differently on the body.

Nonsegmental Vitiligo

Nonsegmental vitiligo is also called generalized vitiligo. It affects more than 9 in 10 people with vitiligo. People with generalized vitiligo usually develop symmetrical areas of skin depigmentation on each side of the body. The first symptoms often appear on the hands, feet, face, neck, or scalp.

Segmental Vitiligo

Segmental vitiligo affects about 1 in 10 people with vitiligo and is more common in younger people. Unlike generalized vitiligo, segmental vitiligo usually affects just one side of the body. For this reason, segmental vitiligo is also called unilateral vitiligo.

How Is Vitiligo Treated?

There’s currently no cure for vitiligo, but treatments can help slow the spread or bring back pigmentation for some people.

Categories of vitiligo treatment options include:

• Topical medications — These drugs are applied directly to the skin. They may include corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus ointment, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, such as ruxolitinib (Opzelura).
• Oral medications — These are taken by mouth. Oral corticosteroids and some JAK inhibitors may be prescribed if vitiligo is progressing quickly.
• Phototherapy — This type of light therapy uses ultraviolet light to restore skin pigmentation. It’s often used in combination with other treatments.
• Surgery — Surgery may be an option for those whose vitiligo is stable and who haven’t found success with other treatments. Vitiligo surgical techniques may require transferring pigmented skin or skin cells to a depigmented area of the body.
• Depigmentation — This is the process of removing pigment from the skin to even out skin tone. It’s not used frequently, and the results are permanent.

Many people choose not to undergo treatment for vitiligo. Some use cosmetics to camouflage areas of depigmentation. Others are comfortable allowing their skin to show.

What Are the Symptoms of Vitiligo?

Patches of skin discoloration are the main symptom of vitiligo. Areas of depigmentation can appear slightly lighter than the rest of the body, completely white, or sometimes pink or brown. Vitiligo can appear on any part of the body.

Vitiligo can also impact vision and hearing, because the same cells that lose pigment in the skin are found in the inner ears and the eyes.

In addition to the physical symptoms of vitiligo, some people experience frustration, depression, and anxiety due to feelings of embarrassment or social stigma. Therapy and social support groups can help you manage emotional difficulties that can come with vitiligo.

Related Conditions

Other autoimmune diseases affect about 15 percent to 25 percent of people with vitiligo. For instance, those with vitiligo may be at risk of developing thyroid conditions, Addison’s disease, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Talk to a dermatology expert or other healthcare provider about your risk level for other autoimmune disorders.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyVitiligoTeam, the social network for people with vitiligo and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with vitiligo.

Did your dermatologist share information about vitiligo skin when you were diagnosed? Has this condition affected your quality of life? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.