Epidemiology

Peak incidence: 10–30 years

Etiology

• Vitiligo is characterized by an absence of melanocytes in the depigmented lesions.
  • Maybe due to autoimmune destruction of melanocytes

Pathophysiology

Clinical features

• Irregular, well-demarcated, depigmented (white) macules or patches
• Unilateral or bilateral distribution, with stable or slowly progressive lesions
• Leukotrichia: depigmented hair; an indicator of poor prognosis
• Coexisting autoimmune diseases (∼ 20% of patients)
  • Most common: Hashimoto thyroiditis, Graves disease
  • Other disorders: type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, alopecia areata, pernicious anemia, Addison disease

Diagnostics

• Differential diagnostics: see Catecholamine Synthesis#Albinism

Treatment