Start with key facts
If you or someone you care for has vitiligo, the information can be overwhelming. But don't worry, we're here to help.
Understanding vitiligo is an ongoing journey, and starting with the basics can help you feel more confident and informed.
What are the physical signs of vitiligo?
You may already know that the primary symptom of vitiligo is the white patches that appear on the skin. This is called depigmentation. When you have vitiligo, melanocytes (the cells that produce the pigment that gives your skin its color) are destroyed. This results in depigmentation, or a loss of pigment on your skin.
Depigmentation can appear on any part of the body, including:
- Skin: usually on the hands, feet, arms, torso, and face
- Hair: scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial hair
- Inside of the mouth or nose
Talking to a healthcare provider or even a loved one about how the physical symptoms make you feel may help you feel less alone in your journey.
What's happening within the skin?
There is a lot more to the science behind vitiligo than just the visible depigmented patches on your skin. Watch this video to understand what is happening within the skin of a person with vitiligo, and ask yourself how you feel once you learn more.
(DESCRIPTION) Video name builds on screen over an animated scene of a skyline framed by trees.
NARRATOR: Vitiligo: the science within the skin.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Vitiligo: The Science Within the Skin
(DESCRIPTION) Scene pans showing 3 people sitting together in a city park. One of them appears to have vitiligo on her face and arms.
NARRATOR: Vitiligo is a lifelong condition that results in white patches or complete loss of color on affected areas of skin. Vitiligo is not contagious, can affect people of any ethnicity, gender or age, and can have a negative impact on people's lives.
(DESCRIPTION) Scene zooms in on the person with vitiligo touching and looking at her arm.
NARRATOR: To understand what's happening on the skin in vitiligo, we first need to understand what's happening within it.
(DESCRIPTION) View shifts to take on the point of view of the person with vitiligo, now looking at her hands.
NARRATOR: Skin, hair, and eye color are determined by a pigment called melanin.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Melanin
(DESCRIPTION) View zooms to cellular view within the skin, with callouts pointing to melanocytes and melanin to illustrate a process called melanogenesis.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Skin layers Melanocyte Melanin Melanogenesis
NARRATOR: Special cells found deep within the skin and hair follicles, called melanocytes, produce melanin through a complex process called melanogenesis.
(DESCRIPTION) View zooms even further into the melanocyte to point out packets of melanin.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Melanocyte Melanin
NARRATOR: During this process, microscopic packets of melanin are produced in the melanocyte.
(DESCRIPTION) Pigment distributes outward throughout the skin.
NARRATOR: Over time, these melanin packets develop pigment and are eventually transported outward throughout the skin.
(DESCRIPTION) View zooms out slightly to reveal the external layer of skin, including hair follicles.
NARRATOR: This spreading and distribution of pigment gives the skin an even and consistent color. Melanin not only determines the color of our skin, hair, and eyes, but also absorbs harmful ultraviolet, or UV radiation, protecting your skin from sun damage.
(DESCRIPTION) Arrows depict the impact of UV light on the skin.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) UV light
(DESCRIPTION) Side-by-side cross-section of skin cells compare levels of melanin in darker skin tone vs lighter skin tone.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Darker skin tone Melanin
Lighter skin tone Melanin
NARRATOR: The amount of melanin the body produces depends on genetics, which is why people have different skin colors. People with darker skin tones typically have more melanin.
(DESCRIPTION) View cuts to the woman with vitiligo standing with arms at her sides then zooms in slightly.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Vitiligo
NARRATOR: For people living with vitiligo, this pigmentation process is disrupted.
(DESCRIPTION) Visual changes from outward appearance to highlight the woman’s immune system.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Immune system
NARRATOR: To understand vitiligo, we also have to know more about the body's immune system.
(DESCRIPTION) Again, we zoom to look at the immune system from a cellular perspective.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Immune cell Bacteria
NARRATOR: The immune system is a complicated collection of chemical signals, cells, tissues, and organs, intended to protect the body from harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
(DESCRIPTION) An immune cell is shown attacking melanocytes.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Immune cell Melanocyte
NARRATOR: Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system isn't working correctly. The immune system mistakenly recognizes melanocytes as harmful invaders, attacking and destroying these pigment-producing cells.
(DESCRIPTION) Color is shown fading from the skin cells, and at the external skin level once view zooms out.
NARRATOR: Following this melanocyte destruction, people with vitiligo develop white patches of depigmented skin.
(DESCRIPTION) Scene switches back to the 3 people sitting together in a city park. Progression of time is shown by the seasons changing as they sit in the park.
NARRATOR: The process of depigmentation is complex, can take time, and varies greatly from person to person.
(DESCRIPTION) View focuses on the woman with vitiligo, with icons building on-screen above her.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Genetics Emotional stress Skin trauma Medications Hormonal changes
NARRATOR: Many factors can contribute to the rate of depigmentation, including genetics, emotional stress, skin trauma (such as sunburn or friction), medications, or even hormonal changes.
(DESCRIPTION) View shifts to a man with segmental vitiligo, then builds a side-by-side comparison. The woman with nonsegmental vitiligo is shown on the left side of the screen.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Segmental vitiligo Nonsegmental vitiligo
NARRATOR: There are two types of vitiligo. Segmental vitiligo is characterized by white patches on only one side or area of the body, while nonsegmental vitiligo, the most common form, has white patches appearing on both sides of the body.
(DESCRIPTION) View shifts to focus on the woman, front view.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Nonsegmental vitiligo
NARRATOR: For people living with nonsegmental vitiligo, depigmentation can have an unpredictable course due to the intricate processes involved.
(DESCRIPTION) View shifts to side view of the woman. First she appears to be alone and the zoomed out view shows her talking with a healthcare provider.
NARRATOR: Although there is no cure for vitiligo, the good news is it can be managed over time in partnership with a healthcare provider.
(DESCRIPTION) View cuts to the cellular level of the skin showing gradual repigmentation and then zooms out slightly to show the external layer of the skin, as well.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) Repigmentation
NARRATOR: Repigmentation is also a long and complex process, but is possible with management options in partnership with a dermatologist, if desired. The time it takes to repigment the skin can vary by person and by the location of the white patches on the body.
(DESCRIPTION) Scene switches back to the 3 people sitting together in a city park.
NARRATOR: As a visible condition, vitiligo can have a negative impact on one's self-esteem.
(DESCRIPTION) Scene switches to split screen of woman with vitiligo sitting in the park vs the zoomed-in cellular view of the skin.
NARRATOR: For people living with vitiligo, a deeper understanding of the science within the skin can be empowering and an important part of making informed decisions about managing the condition.
(DESCRIPTION) Screen fills with color and website URL appears.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT) ThisIsVitiligo.com
NARRATOR: Learn more about vitiligo by visiting ThisIsVitiligo.com. (DESCRIPTION) List of references appears on screen.
(ON-SCREEN TEXT)
References
- Wang Y, Li S, Li C. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2021;61(3);299-323.
- Maranduca MA, Branisteanu D, Serban DN, et al. Oncol Lett. 2019;17(5):4183-4187.
- Hida T, Kamiya T, Kawakami A, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(17):6129.
- Thawabteh AM, Jibreen A, Karaman D, Thawabteh A, Karaman R. Molecules. 2023;28(12):4839.
- Mak TW, Saunders ME, Jett BD. Introduction to the immune response. In: Primer to the Immune Response. 2nd ed. AP Cell Press; 2014:3-20.
- Chen J, Li S, Li C. Med Res Rev. 2021;41(2):1138-1166.
- Grimes PE. Vitiligo: Pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vitiligo-pathogenesis-clinical-features-and-diagnosis?search=Vitiligo%3A%20Pathogenesis%2C%20clinical%20features%2C%20and%20diagnosis&source=search+result&selectedTitle=1%7E150&usage_type=defualt&display_rank=1. Accessed February 4, 2024.
- Diotallevi F, Gioacchini H, De Simoni E, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(5):4910.
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