Vitiligo

Vitiligo
Non-segmental vitiligo of the hand
Pronunciation	/ˌvɪtɪˈlaɪɡoʊ/
Specialty	Dermatology Immunology
Symptoms	Patches of white skin[1]
Usual onset	Childhood, young adult[1]
Duration	Long term[1]
Causes	Unknown[2]
Risk factors	Family history, other autoimmune diseases[3]
Diagnostic method	Tissue biopsy[3]
Treatment	Sunscreen, makeup, topical corticosteroids, phototherapy[2][3]
Frequency	1% of people[4]

Vitiligo (/ˌvɪtɪˈlaɪɡoʊ/) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color.^[1] The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it may be related to immune system changes, genetic factors, stress, or sun exposure.^[5][6] Treatment options include topical medications, light therapy, surgery and cosmetics.^[6] The condition can show up on any skin type as a light peachy color and can appear on any place on the body in all sizes. The spots on the skin known as vitiligo are also able to “change” as spots lose and regain pigment; they will stay in relatively the same areas but can move over time and some big patches can move through the years but never disappear overnight.