Vitiligo: is there a link to skin cancer?

Does vitiligo increase the risk of skin cancer?

Vitiligo, an autoimmune condition resulting in skin depigmentation, seems to raise multiple concerns about its potential to increase the risk of skin cancer. Do individuals with vitiligo therefore have a higher risk of developing skin cancer? Find out here.

Published on October 17, 2025, updated on October 17, 2025, by Lilia, Scientific Editor — 4 min of reading

The main point to remember.

Vitiligo results from an autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, leading to a loss of melanin and localized depigmentation.
Despite the reduction in natural photoprotection, individuals with vitiligo exhibit a lower risk of skin cancer.
This protection appears to be linked to an enhanced immune activity, capable of early elimination of abnormal melanocytic cells, and to an improved photoprotective response.
Depigmented areas, however, remain more sensitive to UV radiation : daily sun protection is therefore essential.

4 minutes to understand your skin. Our dermatological diagnostic guides you toward the ideal skincare for your specific needs. Simple, quick, personalized.

Vitiligo: a protection against cancer?

Vitiligo is a benign autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of melanocytes, leading to depigmentation of one or more areas of the body. The main cause is immune system dysregulation. In this disorder, the body mistakenly identifies melanocytes as foreign cells and mounts an immune response against them. This attack causes their progressive destruction, resulting in depigmented patches on various parts of the body. The exact factors underlying this reaction remain incompletely understood, but a genetic predisposition appears to play a significant role, often in conjunction with triggering factors such as stress, certain infections, or hormonal imbalances.

This depigmentation in vitiligo, by reducing the natural protection against UV rays, raises questions about an increased risk of skin cancers related to oxidative damage. Indeed, UV radiation can induce mutations in melanocyte DNA, promoting their transformation into tumor cells and leading to the development of melanoma. However, several studies paradoxically show that individuals with vitiligo have a lower tendency to develop skin cancer. This protection, limited to cutaneous cancers, could be explained by an overactive immune response targeting pigment cells, which would also impede the progression of potentially tumorigenic melanocytic cells.

≈ 38%

Reduced risk of developing skin cancer in patients with vitiligo (study conducted with 1,021,154 participants).

This study also noted that patient behavior, such as improved sun protection, could contribute to these outcomes. CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors work by reducing the activity of regulatory T cells, which are involved in the control of the immune response. By lowering this activity, these treatments can promote the development of autoimmune diseases, such as the vitiligo. This phenomenon reinforces the idea that vitiligo and melanoma may be linked to opposite genetic profiles, which has led to vitiligo being recently termed “white armor,” a metaphor indicating its potential protective role against certain skin cancers.

However, this immune protection is not absolute. Depigmented areas remain extremely sensitive to sunlight, as they lack melanin. Therefore, individuals with vitiligo must maintain strict photoprotection: daily application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding prolonged exposure. Such vigilance is essential to prevent sunburns and reduce the risk of skin cancer.