Vitiligo is a life-long condition with an unpredictable course, characterized most notably by patches on the skin with loss of the normal skin color. Reported complications of having this condition include:

• Social stigma and mental stress
• Sunburns and skin cancer
• Hearing loss
• Inflammation in the colored part of the eye called Iritis 
• Complications of medications used in treatment like Steroids. 

Although vitiligo often only affects the color of the skin without altering the texture or sensation, it is generally considered an autoimmune disorder. This is because autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and organs, and in people with vitiligo, the immune system appears to attack the pigment cells in the skin. Vitiligo can also make a person more likely to get other autoimmune conditions. About 25% of people have vitiligo experience other auto-immune conditions like:

• Addison's disease, which affects the adrenal glands 
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (also known as pernicious anemia)
• Thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• Conditions that impact the skin, muscles, joints, and connective tissue, like lupus, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis

How much Melanin a person has in their skin is responsible for their skin tone, and more importantly, it is responsible for protecting the skin from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Losing melanin puts a person with vitiligo at a higher risk for sunburns and skin cancer, and more likely to get a skin burn than tan. 

Melanin is also present in other parts of the body, one of which is the inner ear. Recent research has uncovered that the presence of a small group of melanin producing cells in the inner ear is essential for hearing. As a result, conditions that cause loss of pigment cells can lead to hearing loss due to the loss of these cells. 

Furthermore, individuals with vitiligo can develop inflammation of parts of the eye that typically contain pigment cells, like the Iris which is responsible for eye color and the Retina which is the part of the eye that perceives light. 

Other complications are related to the long term use of steroids in the treatment of the discolored skin patches, which can weaken the skin on which it is used. 

Vitiligo affects about 2% of the global population and is more common in certain geographic regions like in Gujarat in Western India. It is more noticeable on darker skin. In 2016, researchers examined the available studies on vitiligo and found that vitiligo was present at a high rate in Africa among women. Prevalence estimates of vitiligo in Africa range from .4% to 2.5%. The study also found high prevalence rates of vitiligo in Europe and Oceania. Another study from 2020 looked at a group of 1,487 individuals with vitiligo and found that 46.6 percent of them originally had white skin. Anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sex can develop vitiligo. 

Vitiligo is not contagious, or a life threatening condition. It is, however, considered a life-altering condition as it affects the appearance of an individual over time and makes them vulnerable to social and cultural stigma in different parts of the world. 

There is no cure for vitiligo. There is treatment that may help restore the skin color, but does not stop further loss of color or recurrence. Vitiligo typically starts before age 30, and can progress to affect either the entire body or just a few parts of the body. Doctors cannot predict how the disease will progress once it starts. 

Vitiligo is not the only condition that affects skin pigmentation and individuals should seek professional medical care to help diagnose the cause of changes in the color of their skin.

Vitiligo is a long lasting condition that causes areas of the skin to lose color. The reason why it happens is still unknown. However, it is thought to be auto-immune in nature. This means that the body’s immune system develops antibodies that attack the pigment cells responsible for producing melanin which gives the skin its color, and destroys them by mistake. This causes the skin to become milky white in color. Between 10% - 20% of individuals who develop vitiligo fully regain their skin color. 

Social, religious, historical, and cultural factors contribute to the stigma of vitiligo. In some cases, the pale patches are considered a curse, or the wrath of God. Other myths include that vitiligo is deadly and costs lives. This misinformation stems from a lack of information about vitiligo as well as stigma of individuals with the condition. However, not all cultural treatment of vitiligo is negative and/or contributes to stigma.