Vitiligo Factsheet

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a disease characterized by the loss of pigmentation and the development of white spots on the skin. The spots occur when pigment cells, called melanocytes, are destroyed and the pigment, called melanin, can no longer be produced.

What is the origin of the word "vitiligo"?

The word "vitiligo" comes from Latin. The first part of the word, "viti" means a mark or blemish. The suffix, "ligo" is a common ending meaning to cause. Thus, vitiligo means "to cause a mark or blemish", which is of course what the condition does.

How do you properly pronounce the word "vitiligo"?

Many people pronounce this word incorrectly the first time they see it. To hear it correctly, say the words "Little I Go." Then replace the first "L" with a "V" - giving you "Vittle I Go." Run the words together and you have the correct pronunciation.

How many people have vitiligo?

Approximately 0.5-1% of the population has vitiligo. This equates to 2-4 million individuals in the United States alone.

What percentage are men versus women?

Vitiligo affects men and women of all races and ages equally.

Can vitiligo be cured?

There is currently no cure for vitiligo, but a variety of effective therapies do exist. PUVA used to be the most common treatment, but it has been largely replaced by topical immunomodulators/ immunosupressants, narrow-band UVB phototherapy, and excimer laser phototherapy. For all of these treatments, it is important to realize that it takes time (often several months) to see substantial progress with repigmentation.