Is vitiligo a dangerous disease?

Is vitiligo dangerous?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by the appearance of depigmented patches on the skin, resulting from the loss of melanocytes. But does this condition pose a health risk? Discover the answers in this article.

Published on October 31, 2025, updated on October 31, 2025, by Lilia, Scientific Editor — 6 min of reading

Are there any risks associated with vitiligo?

To better understand this disease and its depigmentation, it is essential to comprehend the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction. The vitiligo results from the loss of melanocytes, the cells located at the dermo-epidermal junction whose primary function is to synthesize melanin. This pigment is responsible for skin coloration and its protection against UV radiation. Once produced, melanin is transferred via the dendritic extensions of melanocytes into keratinocytes, which also participate in the skin's inflammatory response.

Two main mechanisms explain the disappearance of melanocytes in the context of vitiligo. The first is associated with their destruction by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, resulting in apoptosis. The second involves a defect in melanocyte adhesion to the basement membrane, leading to their detachment and elimination.

Although these mechanisms generate significant cosmetic concerns, vitiligo carries no direct risk of complications, such as infections, nor does it cause physical pain.

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Does vitiligo increase the risk of developing other diseases?

Affecting between 0.5% and 2% of the global population, the vitiligo is not a dangerous disease for physical health, but it is often linked to comorbidities. Indeed, although this autoimmune disease does not directly affect organs or threaten life expectancy, it is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or type 1 diabetes.

15 to 20%

Patients with vitiligo also suffer from thyroid disease.

A study conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance database revealed a significant correlation between the vitiligo and various diseases. The analysis included 14,883 patients diagnosed with vitiligo and 59,532 individuals without this condition. The results demonstrate that people with vitiligo have a higher prevalence of comorbidities. In particular, 14.3% of vitiligo patients had at least one other autoimmune disease, compared to only 6% in the control group.

Furthermore, it has been shown that the lack of melanin in the lesional skin of patients affected by vitiligo increases light-induced damage. Therefore, people with vitiligo must be particularly cautious when exposed to the sun, although it should not be completely avoided. A gradual and moderate exposure, combined with the prior application of sunscreen, is possible and can even be beneficial to mood.

Finally, while vitiligo is not inherently dangerous, its psychological and social impact can be substantial. The patches are often visible on areas such as the face, the hands, or other exposed parts of the body. This can lead some patients to experience reduced self-esteem, anxiety, or depressive symptoms. In a review published in the British Journal of Dermatology that compiled several studies on the psychological state of patients with vitiligo, it was observed that depression (in 25 studies), followed by anxiety (in 13 studies), and other conditions such as social phobia are psychological disorders that frequently occur in patients with vitiligo.

Psychological disorder	Prevalence
Depression	23%
Anxiety …	53%
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)	8.7%
Social anxiety disorder	8%
Substance use disorder	10%

Prevalence of psychological disorders associated with vitiligo.

Source: RATIB S. The prevalence of psychological co-morbidity in people with vitiligo: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Dermatology (2018).