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Vitiligo

Written by Andrew Le, MD.
Medically reviewed by Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Last updated July 15, 2022
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  1. What is vitiligo?
  2. Symptoms
  3. Treatment
On this page
What is vitiligo?
Symptoms
Treatment
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Written by Andrew Le, MD.
Medically reviewed by
Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Last updated July 15, 2022

Vitiligo quiz

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What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is when white patches develop on the skin because of a loss of color (pigment) in these areas.

It’s caused by a problem with the pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes. The body’s immune system attacks them. About 20–30% of people who get it have a close relative who has it. It is considered an autoimmune response and tends to occur in people with other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s.

Vitiligo can also be caused by skin trauma, such as a severe sunburn.

Symptoms

Vitiligo usually appears on the hands and face first and may spread over time. Pale patches of skin may be the only symptom.

Vitiligo quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your vitiligo.

Take a diagnosis quiz

Treatment

Sometimes, it goes away on its own. If it doesn’t, see your doctor. Depending on how much of your body is affected, your doctor may write a prescription for a steroid cream that could be used to prevent patches from getting bigger. Other prescription creams and even UV light therapy can be prescribed to treat vitiligo.

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Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP...
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