Is vitiligo a dangerous disease?

Is vitiligo a dangerous condition?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterised by the appearance of depigmented patches on the skin, resulting from a loss of melanocytes. But does this condition pose any 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

Does vitiligo pose any risks?

To better understand this disease and its depigmentation, it is essential to grasp the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction. The vitiligo results from the loss of melanocytes, cells situated at the dermo-epidermal junction, whose primary function is to synthesise melanin. This pigment is responsible for skin pigmentation and its defence against UV radiation. Once synthesised, melanin is transferred via the dendritic extensions of melanocytes into keratinocytes, which also contribute to the cutaneous inflammatory response.

Two main mechanisms explain the loss of melanocytes in the context of vitiligo. The first involves their destruction by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, leading to apoptosis. The second is due to a defect in melanocyte adhesion to the basal lamina, causing detachment and elimination.

Although these mechanisms give rise to considerable cosmetic concerns, vitiligo poses no risk of direct 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, vitiligo is not a dangerous condition for physical health, but it is often associated with comorbidities. Indeed, although this autoimmune disease does not directly affect organs or pose a life-threatening risk, it is frequently linked to other autoimmune disorders, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or type 1 diabetes.

15 to 20%

Patients with vitiligo also suffer from a thyroid disorder.

A study based on Taiwan’s National Health Insurance database revealed a significant correlation between vitiligo and various diseases. The analysis involved 14,883 patients with vitiligo and 59,532 individuals without this condition. The results show that people with vitiligo have a higher prevalence of comorbidities. In particular, 14.3% of patients suffered from at least one other autoimmune disease, compared with only 6% in the control group.

Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the absence of melanin in the lesional skin of patients with vitiligo increases light-induced damage. Thus, individuals with vitiligo must be particularly cautious when exposed to sunlight, although it should not be entirely ruled out. Gradual and moderate exposure, combined with the prior application of suncream, is feasible and may even be beneficial for psychological well-being.

Finally, although vitiligo is not dangerous per se, its psychological and social impact can be considerable. The spots are often visible on areas such as the face, the hands or other visible parts of the body. This leads some patients to experience a loss of self-confidence, anxiety or depressive disorders. In a review published in the British Journal of Dermatology combining several studies examining the psychological state of patients with vitiligo, it was reported 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 phobia	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).