Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.

To diagnose vitiligo, your doctor will ask about your family history and perform a thorough physical exam. The exam may include a close evaluation of your skin. Sometimes doctors use a Wood’s lamp, also known as a black light, which is an ultraviolet light that the doctor shines on your skin.

Living with vitiligo. Living with vitiligo can be hard. Some people with the disorder feel embarrassed, sad, ashamed, or upset about how their skin looks. Sometimes, this can lead to low self-esteem and depression. Seeking help from a counselor or therapist can help you cope. You can help manage vitiligo by:

El vitíligo es un trastorno que hace que algunas áreas de la piel se vuelvan blancas. Esto ocurre porque se destruyen las células que producen la pigmentación o el color de la piel.

Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes areas of skin to lose color. When skin cells that make color are attacked and destroyed, the skin turns a milky-white color. A person with vitiligo sometimes may have family members who also have the disease.

Vitiligo is not usually medically harmful, but the white patches can cause emotional distress. Most treatments for vitiligo are designed to help restore color to the white patches of skin. For some people, treatment helps make the skin color look more even, but many treatments can have unwanted side effects.

Research Progress Related to Vitiligo . The NIAMS supports research to help treat and possibly prevent vitiligo. Researchers are looking at the immune response to understand the body’s natural mechanisms that trigger and control autoimmune diseases, which could be used to develop new treatment strategies.

Cómo adaptarse al vitíligo. Puede ser difícil tener que vivir con el vitíligo. Algunas personas con este trastorno se sienten incómodas, tristes, avergonzadas o molestas por el aspecto de su piel.

NIAMS supports research to better understand the causes of and potential treatments for vitiligo. Research in mice has identified a protein mutation that could prevent or reverse the condition. Genome studies have found at least 13 genes associated with vitiligo, helping researchers better understand what may cause it.

Vitiligo is a disorder that causes patches of skin to become white, because the cells that make color are destroyed. Learn more about this skin disorder. Vitiligo is a disorder that causes patches of skin to become white.