How To Treat And Manage Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disease characterized by the patchy loss of pigment. These white patches may appear just about anywhere, but they may be more likely to appear on areas of the body that have been sunburned or exposed to sunlight for many years. The face, hands, and arms are common areas for vitiligo to strike. However, the disease can also occur on body parts typically never exposed to the sun, such as the genital area. Vitiligo is not painful or contagious. It's thought to probably be an autoimmune disease, which is one in which the body attacks its tissues. In the case of vitiligo, this attack would be directed at the melanocytes, which are specialized skin cells that produce melanin, which colors the skin, hair, and eyes.