Vitiligo is a hereditary and autoimmune skin condition in which the skin's natural colour is lost due to a lack of pigmentation. Vitiligo is a skin condition that affects people before they reach the age of 40. It causes white, irregularly formed patches on various parts of the body.

It may cause hair and eye colour changes, as well as white patches within the mouth. Sunburn and skin cancer are more common in people with vitiligo, as are hair loss, eye problems, and psychological distress.

Although the precise cause of vitiligo is unclear, the body's immune system is believed to be the primary cause. Melanocytes, cells that contain melanin, a dark pigment responsible for skin colour, are killed by the body's immune system. Vitiligo patients, on the other hand, are considered to have a balanced immune system apart from attacking melanocytes.

Vitiligo may also occur in the presence of other autoimmune diseases including hypo-or hyperthyroidism, diabetes, adrenocortical insufficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, and pernicious anaemia. Sunburn, environmental or industrial contaminants, and stress are all potential triggers.

Vitiligo is often believed to be a genetically transmitted disease. NALP1, a protein coding gene that encodes an apoptosis-related protein, has been linked to the development of vitiligo in studies. Despite the genetic correlation, only 5-7 percent of children can develop vitiligo, even though one of their parents has the disease. Vitiligo is a skin disease that is neither infectious nor life-threatening. However, the disorder is often traumatic, and in the worst cases, people can develop severe depression.

Vitiligo is classified into three groups based on the position of patches on the body:

1. Generalized vitiligo is a form of vitiligo that causes patches to appear on different parts of the body.
2. Vitiligo that appears only on one side of the body is known as segmental vitiligo.
3. Vitiligo that appears in patches on a small area of skin is known as localised vitiligo.

The diagnosis is based largely on the patient's medical history as well as any family history of vitiligo. In certain cases, skin biopsies and blood tests are also required to rule out the existence of other autoimmune disorders.