Vitiligo: A review of some facts lesser known about depigmentation

Abstract

Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the destruction of melanocytes. It has three important factors underlying this destruction. The depigmented skin has many aberrant functions such as a muted response to contact allergens, a phenomenon also seen in mice that depigment. The white skin of those with vitiligo does not form non-melanoma skin cancers although the white skin of albinos, which has a similar color as vitiligo, is highly susceptible to skin cancer.

Keywords

• Vitiligo
• contact allergen
• non-melanoma skin cancer
• albinos