Vitiligo is an autoimmune illness; in simple terminology, a person’s immune system is attacking itself whereas it should be attacking foreign cells such as viruses.  For some persons vitiligo develops where there are hair roots and due to the deficiency of melanin in the skin the hair can turn white or grey.

  Vitiligo is caused when there is a deficiency in the pigment melanin found in the skin. Melanin is what gives skin its colour and is produced by skin cells called melanocytes. Individuals with vitiligo have insufficient working melanocytes to produce sufficient melanin in the skin. 

The pale patches seen in vitiligo can have either smooth or irregular edges. The skin can be red and inflamed or have a brownish discolouration as result of hyperpigmentation. Vitiligo does not cause discomfort nor dryness to the skin although the patches can sometimes be itchy. The condition varies and some persons get only a few small white patches while others get much larger ones.

There are two types of vitiligo: non- segmental or (bilateral) and segmental vitiligo. Occasionally, the illness may affect the entire body; this is known as universal or complete vitiligo. In non-segmental vitiligo, the symptoms often appear on both sides of the body as symmetrical white patches.

These symmetrical patches may appear on the back of the hands, arms, skin around the body openings and can include the eyes, knees, elbows and feet. Non- segmental vitiligo is the most common type, affecting approximately 9 in 10 people that have the illness.

In segmental vitiligo known also as unilateral or localised vitiligo, the patches are stabilised to a specific area. It is uncommon in adults but prevalent in children. It also begins at an early age and affects 3 in 10 children who have the illness.

If you have non-segmental vitiligo, your immune system terminates melanocytes in the skin that make melanin. It is also connected to other autoimmune illnesses such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive) thyroid gland.  Not everyone develops these conditions.

Risk factors associated with vitiligo include: family history of vitiligo, whether family have other autoimmune conditions as well as actual changes in the genes linked to the illness. Vitiligo can be triggered by stressful events such as childbirth, skin damage and exposure to certain type of chemicals.

Someone walking down the street with signs of vitiligo will always cause others to stare, however, it is not a contagious illness. Feel free to interact and greet that friend or loved one living with vitiligo.