Vitiligo is a common autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes, the cells that give skin its color, causing patches of skin to turn white or noticeably lighter than the surrounding area.
Worldwide, vitiligo affects men, women, and children, and researchers estimate that about 1 in 109 people will develop vitiligo by age 80, though the real number is likely higher, since many cases are never formally diagnosed.
