Vitiligo

Vitiligo refers to the development of white patches anywhere on the skin. With this condition, pigment-forming cells (known as melanocytes) are destroyed by the immune system, causing the skin's loss of pigmentation. Vitiligo usually develops between the ages of 10 and 40. It affects both men and women and appears to be hereditary.

Vitiligo usually affects areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun. It also appears in body folds, near moles, or at the site of previous skin injury. The condition is permanent, and there is no known cure or prevention. However, some treatments can improve the appearance of the skin, such as steroid creams and ultraviolet light therapy.