VITILIGO is a long term condition that is caused by a lack of melanin, a pigment in the skin, the NHS says.
It can affect any area and those who suffer might develop patches on their skin and on the scalp too.
What is vitiligo?
The main symptom of vitiligo is flat, white spots or patches on your skin.
Initially, the vitiligo may start as a patch of skin that is paler than the rest.
Gradually, the patch will become completely white as the pigment in the skin begins to fade.
Vitiligo does not cause discomfort to your skin, such as dryness, but patches may occasionally be itchy, guidance states.
What causes vitiligo?
Vitiligo is caused by the lack of a skin pigment called melanin.
Non-segmental vitiligo, the most common type of vitiligo, is thought to be an autoimmune condition, the NHS states.
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This means that your immune system – the body’s natural defence system – does not work properly.
Famous sufferers of the skin condition include the model Winnie Harlow and the late singer and entertainer Michael Jackson.
Winnie previously revealed that she first started to suffer with the condition when she was just four years-old.
She previously told Cosmopolitan: "It felt incredibly isolating as a child. I vividly recall being in third grade and trying to befriend two girls who would run away from me because their mothers didn’t want them to “catch” what I had, as if I were contagious."
Is there a cure for vitiligo?
In some cases, vitiligo can clear up by itself and the skin can return to its normal colour.
Treatment of the condition can work in returning the skin back to a normal, more uniform colour, but progress is usually very slow and the process needs time to work.
Therefore a cure for vitiligo cannot be guaranteed by doctors, but the condition can improve.
How can vitiligo be treated?
Treatment for vitiligo is based on improving your skin’s appearance by restoring its colour, but the effects of treatment are not usually permanent.
For smaller patches of vitiligo you may be prescribed a steroid cream, this can sometimes stop the spread of the patches, and may restore some of your original skin colour.
Fake tan can also be used to try to darken the white patches.
Another option is phototherapy or light therapy, which is only offered in the UK if topical treatments have not worked.
If you have vitiligo, the pale areas of your skin are more vulnerable to sunburn.
The UV lights can help re-pigment your skin but can also increase your risk of skin cancer.
What are the complications of vitiligo?
Due to the lack of melanin in the skin, your skin will be more vulnerable to the effects of the sun.
Problems with confidence and self-esteem are common in people with vitiligo, particularly if the condition affects areas of frequently exposed skin.
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