VitiligoSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a skin condition in which there is a loss of color (pigment) from areas of skin. This results in uneven white patches that have no pigment, but the skin feels normal.
Autoimmune disorder - vitiligo
Vitiligo occurs when immune cells destroy the cells that make brown pigment (melanocytes). This destruction is thought to be due to an autoimmune problem. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system, which normally protects the body from infection, attacks and destroys healthy body tissue instead. The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown.
Vitiligo may appear at any age. There is an increased rate of the condition in some families.
Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune diseases:
- Addison disease (disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones)
- Thyroid disease
- Pernicious anemia (decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12)
- Type 1 diabetes
Flat areas of normal-feeling skin without any pigment appear suddenly or gradually. These areas have a darker border. The edges are well defined, but irregular.
Vitiligo most often affects the face, elbows and knees, back of the hands and feet, and genitals. It affects both sides of the body equally.
Vitiligo is more noticeable in darker-skinned people because of the contrast of white patches against dark skin.
No other skin changes occur.
Vitiligo is difficult to treat and repigmentation is slow (months to years). Early treatment options include the following:
- Phototherapy, a medical procedure in which your skin is carefully exposed to limited amounts of ultraviolet light. Phototherapy may be given alone, or after you take a medicine that makes your skin sensitive to light. A dermatologist performs this treatment.
- Certain lasers may help the skin repigment.
- Ruxolitinib (Opzelurea) is a topical cream that became the first FDA-approved treatment for vitiligo in 2022.
- Other medicines applied to the skin, such as corticosteroid creams or ointments, immunosuppressant creams or ointments such as pimecrolimus (Elidel) and tacrolimus (Protopic) can be considered.
Skin may be moved (grafted) from normally pigmented areas and placed onto areas where there is pigment loss.
Several cover-up makeups or skin dyes can mask vitiligo. Ask your provider for the names of these products.
In extreme cases when most of the body is affected, the remaining skin that still has pigment may be depigmented, or bleached. This is a permanent change that is used as a last option.
It is important to remember that skin without pigment is at greater risk for sun damage. Be sure to apply a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB), high-SPF sunscreen or sunblock. Sunscreen can also be helpful for making the condition less noticeable, because unaffected skin may not darken in the sun. Use other safeguards against sun exposure, such as wearing a hat with a broad rim and long sleeve shirt and pants.
Sunnyvale Center (401)
Amit Pandya is a Dermatologist practicing medicine in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Pandya is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vitiligo. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Vitiligo, Hypomelanotic Disorder, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Melasma, and Thrombectomy. Dr. Pandya is board certified in Dermatology. Dr. Pandya is currently accepting new patients.
UPMC North Hills Dermatology
Anuradha Bishnoi, MD, specializes in dermatology. She practices at UPMC North Hills Dermatology and UPMC Shadyside Dermatology. Dr. Bishnoi received her medical degree from Maharshi Dayanand University and completed her residency at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Dr. Bishnoi is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vitiligo. She is also highly rated in 23 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Hypomelanotic Disorder, Vitiligo, Lichen Planus, and Melasma. Dr. Bishnoi is currently accepting new patients.
Hahnemann Campus
John Harris is a Dermatologist practicing medicine in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Harris is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Vitiligo. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Vitiligo, Hypomelanotic Disorder, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), and Bullae.
More information and support for people with vitiligo condition and their families can be found at:
- Vitiligo Support International - vitiligosupport.org
The course of vitiligo varies and is unpredictable. Some areas may regain normal pigment (coloring), but other new areas of pigment loss may appear. Skin that is repigmented may be slightly lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. Pigment loss may get worse over time.
Contact your provider for an appointment if areas of your skin lose their coloring for no reason (for example, there was no injury to the skin).
Summary: Vitiligo is a long-term autoimmune condition that causes the skin to lose its color. The body's germ-fighting system (immune system) mistakenly attacks the skin cells (melanocytes) which produce the pigment that gives the skin color (melanin). This leads to the formation of patches of skin with less or no pigment (depigmentation). These patches can occur anywhere on the body. In the nonsegmental f...
Summary: Investigators plan to perform a pilot study that aims to characterize the microbiome of human vitiligo patients with both active and stable disease and compare this to the microbiome of age and sex matched controls. The investigators aim to answer the question whether the gut and skin microbiome of patients with vitiligo differs from the general population.
Published Date: April 09, 2026
Published By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dinulos JGH. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 19.
James WD. Disorders of pigmentation. In: James WD, ed. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 31.
Seneschal J, Passeron T, Torrelo A, Ortonne J-P. Vitiligo and other disorders of hypopigmentation. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 66.