Heal House
한국어English

Vitiligo

Why Does Vitiligo Occur? Causes and Aggravating Factors Explained Simply

Jung Min Bae Jung Min Bae Dermatologist · Heal House Gangnam Branch

"Did I do something wrong to cause this?" This is a question people often ask themselves with a sense of self-blame after being diagnosed. Let us be clear from the start: vitiligo is not a disease caused by doing something wrong. Today, we will go through why vitiligo occurs, what makes it worse, and common misconceptions one by one.

What Causes Vitiligo?

It is believed that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks pigment cells. This is called an "autoimmune" response.

Normally, the immune system is a defense system that attacks harmful external agents. However, in vitiligo, the immune system mistakenly attacks "your own pigment cells." As a result, pigment cells decrease or disappear, and the affected area turns white. This autoimmune mechanism is currently considered the most likely cause.

However, there is not just one cause. It is understood that multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, and neurological factors, act together. In other words, in people with a genetic predisposition, an immune response combined with environmental factors leads to the loss of pigment cells.

Why Do Pigment Cells Disappear?

Because the cells that produce pigment are attacked and lose their function or disappear. Skin color is produced by this pigment.

Our skin contains "pigment cells (melanocytes)" that produce color. These cells produce color to maintain skin tone. In vitiligo, these cells are damaged and cannot produce color. Therefore, the affected area appears whiter than the surrounding skin.

Fortunately, in areas where pigment cells are not completely gone and remain in places like hair follicles, treatment may reactivate these cells to restore color. This is why areas with many hair follicles, such as the face, tend to respond better to treatment.

Is Vitiligo Contagious?

No. Vitiligo is absolutely not contagious. This is an important fact to know.

Vitiligo is not caused by bacteria or viruses. It is a problem with the immune system and pigment cells, so it cannot be transmitted through touch or living together. It is not spread by swimming pools, baths, meals, or any contact. Although there may be misunderstandings from others, medically, it has no contagiousness at all. Patients and their families can rest assured on this point.

What Factors Worsen Vitiligo?

Skin irritation or severe sunburn are typical triggers.

Factors that may contribute to worseningReason
Injury · Severe frictionNew spots may appear at the site of irritation (Koebner phenomenon)
Severe sunburnDirectly stresses pigment cells
Major stress · Changes in physical conditionMay have an effect

Therefore, avoiding severe skin irritation and sunburn can be helpful. However, the impact of these factors varies from person to person, so it is enough to reduce irritation in daily life without excessive worry. There is no clear evidence that specific foods cause vitiligo, so there is no need to strictly avoid any foods.

Jung Min Bae

Dermatologist · Gangnam Branch

With sincere care and continuous research, I will be a reliable companion for vitiligo patients.