What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a condition where patches of unpigmented skin appear on parts of your body. It occurs because the cells that make up the color in your skin (melanocytes or pigment) break down.
The cause of vitiligo isn’t fully known. Some experts say it could be an autoimmune disease, which is when your immune system mistakenly attacks a seemingly healthy part of your own body. In this case, the immune system mistakenly attacks your melanocytes. It could be that vitiligo is hereditary, but no one knows for sure.
Regardless of race or gender, anyone can develop vitiligo. It’s a life-long condition but there are ways to minimize or balance out the appearance of the discoloration.