Vitiligo, << `viht` uh LY goh, >> is a noninfectious disease in which people develop white spots on the skin. The spots vary in size and location. They occur where skin cells called melanocytes have been destroyed. These cells normally produce melanin, a brown-black pigment that determines the color of skin and hair.
Vitiligo affects about 2 percent of all people, regardless of skin color or age. The white spots often appear on exposed areas of skin, such as the hands, face, and upper part of the chest. The spots do not cause pain, itching, or burning, but they burn easily when exposed to sunlight. The course of the disease is unpredictable. The spots can get larger or stay the same size. Vitiligo can also turn hair white.
No one knows the exact cause of vitiligo. Researchers believe some people are born with a tendency to develop the disease. The melanocytes of people with vitiligo are thought to interact with the immune and nervous systems to bring about their own destruction. An injury, such as a burn, cut, or severe sunburn, can trigger vitiligo. The start of the disease is sometimes connected with emotional stress.
There is no cure for vitiligo. Many patients use cosmetics to cover the spots. A treatment that combines use of the drug psoralen with exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light can bring back some or all skin color. Such treatment can increase the number of healthy melanocytes in affected areas.
