Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition where your skin loses its natural color in patches because the cells that create pigment stop working.
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Find DermatologistsClinical Overview
Vitiligo (labeled as L80 in medical records) is a condition that causes your skin to lose its natural color in patches. This happens because your body stops producing enough melanin, which is the natural pigment that gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color. It is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else.
The condition most commonly affects the hands, feet, face, and lips, but it can appear anywhere on the body. It happens when the cells that make color, called melanocytes, are destroyed or stop functioning correctly. While it changes your appearance, it does not cause pain or physical illness.
Common Symptoms
- Smooth, white patches on the skin.
- Premature graying or whitening of hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard.
- Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose.