Vitiligo also causes premature gray hair on the head, eyes, or face.
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What Is Vitiligo?
Vitiligois a chronicautoimmuneskin condition in which immune cells destroymelanocytes, the cells that producepigmentscalled melanin in your skin.
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When these cells are destroyed, a pale or white patch of skin can result.
Unlike other chronic autoimmune conditions, there are rarely othersymptomsthat develop with vitiligo.
In some cases, vitiligo patches can become itchy, butpainor other serious complications are unusual.
Vitiligo or Gray Hair?
Melanin isn’t just responsible for skin color, it also gives hair its color.
All hair is naturally white, but melanin develops before birth togive hair its color.
Different hair colors contain varying amounts and types of melanin.
If the pigment in your hair is changing in uniform patterns rather than isolated patches, it is likelygraying.
Vitiligo tends to appear in patches.
Other conditionslikepoliosis, or white forelock, can cause gray or white patches in your hair.
Instead, vitiligo often occurs alongside another inflammatory skin condition called alopecia areata.
What Causes Vitiligo Hair?
While it’s primarily a chronic autoimmune disorder, several factors can lead to hair discoloration from vitiligo.
Since these are all areas where hair can grow, you may experience hair pigment loss in these places.
Treatment for Vitiligo Hair
Vitiligo, like other chronic autoimmune conditions, can be difficult to treat.
An alternative treatment option for hair discoloration from vitiligo is a hair follicle transplant.
This is where healthyhair folliclesare removed from areas unaffected by vitiligo and placed in areas of pigment loss.
Summary
Vitiligo can change your appearance but rarely causes serious disease or complications.
Lack of color in the skin or hair is the most common symptom.
Other conditions that cause hair loss can occur alongside vitiligo, but vitiligo itself is not usually the cause.
Vitiligo is not harmful to your physical health, but it can impact your self-esteem.
Vitiligo Society.What you better know about vitiligo.
MedlinePlus.Is hair color determined by genetics?
Library of Congress.Why does hair turn gray?
ClinicalTrials.gov.Hair transplantation for treatment of vitiligo.
2015;8(4):211-217. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.172192
