Vitiligo

Definition

Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterized by patches of skin losing their pigment. The condition occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, are destroyed or cease to function.

Related terms

Melanocytes:

Cells located in the basal layer of the skin's epidermis that produce melanin, giving skin its color.

Pigmentation: The coloring of a person's skin, hair, or eyes which is determined by the production and distribution of melanin.

Autoimmune disorder: A condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part, suspected to be one of the causes behind vitiligo