Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that typically does not cause physical pain or medical complications. However, some concerns may arise, particularly regarding its implications during pregnancy. Continue reading to better understand these issues.
Does vitiligo affect pregnancy?
Summary
Published on October 31, 2025, updated on October 31, 2025, by Lilia, Scientific Editor — 6 min of reading
Themes:
Does vitiligo have an impact on pregnancy?
The vitiligo is a skin disorder affecting 0.5 to 2% of the world’s population. It manifests as a depigmentation of certain areas of the body, due to an immune system dysfunction that leads to the destruction of melanocytes. Melanocytes are involved in the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color. The causes of vitiligo are diverse, including heredity, stress, or even the Koebner phenomenon. If the vitiligo is not a dangerous disease per se, but certain concerns remain about its potential impact on pregnant women and their unborn child, as well as the possible complications it may entail.
A review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that among 4,738 pregnant women with vitiligo and 47,380 pregnant women without vitiligo, the miscarriage rate was slightly higher in those with vitiligo than in those without. Conversely, other complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm births, appeared to be less common in women with vitiligo compared with women without the condition.
| Complications | Incidence rate in pregnant women with vitiligo | Incidence rate among pregnant women without vitiligo |
|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage | 14,7% | 12,1% |
| Pre-eclampsia | 1,7% | 2,2% |
| Preterm birth | 1,5% | 2,4% |
Assessment of the risks of complications during pregnancy in pregnant women with or without vitiligo.
Source: BAE J M. & al. Pregnancy outcomes in patients with vitiligo: A nationwide population-based cohort study from Korea. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018).
However, these results should be interpreted with caution, as the observed differences between pregnant women with vitiligo and those without are very small.
Another study using a similar protocol was conducted by Wang and colleagues. It involved 1,096 pregnant women with vitiligo and 4,384 pregnant women without vitiligo. Similar results to those reported by other researchers were observed.
| Complications | Incidence rate in pregnant women with vitiligo | Incidence rate among pregnant women without vitiligo |
|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage | 10,7% | 8,1% |
| Pre-eclampsia | 1,9% | 1,6% |
| Preterm birth | 2,2% | 2,0% |
Assessment of the risks of complications during pregnancy in pregnant women with or without vitiligo.
Source: WANG W.-M. & al. Pregnancy outcomes in women with vitiligo: A Taiwanese nationwide cohort study. PLOS One (2021).
Once again, the results should be interpreted with caution, as the observed differences are very slight and can hardly be considered significant.
The available data therefore do not allow a definitive conclusion regarding the impact of vitiligo on the occurrence of obstetric complications, and additional studies with larger sample sizes and standardized protocols would be necessary to better assess this link.
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Does pregnancy influence the progression of vitiligo?
Pregnancy does not appear to affect the progression of vitiligo.
Most available data suggest that the disease remains stable during pregnancy, without significant worsening of depigmented macules or the emergence of new lesions. For example, a study of 186,222 deliveries, including 79 patients with vitiligo, found that none experienced disease-related complications or notable progression. No significant differences were observed in obstetric risk factors, labor characteristics and complications, or birth outcomes. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, since the study does not provide details on the type or severity of the vitiligo or on the treatments the patients received during pregnancy.
Sources
SHEINER E. & al. Pregnancy outcome in women with vitiligo. International Journal of Dermatology (2011).
KUNDU R. P. & al. Influence of pregnancy on vitiligo activity. Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology (2016).
BAE J M. & al. Pregnancy outcomes in patients with vitiligo: A nationwide population-based cohort study from Korea. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018).
MICALI G. The influence of pregnancy on the clinical evolution and prognosis of pre-existing inflammatory and autoimmune skin disorders and their management. Dermatolo-Endocrinology (2020).
HAYATI F. & al. Vitiligo and pregnancy: How do each affect the other? Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2021).
WANG W.-M. & al. Pregnancy outcomes in women with vitiligo: A Taiwanese nationwide cohort study. PLOS One (2021).
