The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Vitiligo that are listed by the Diseases Database:
Source: Diseases DatabaseConditions listing Vitiligo as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Vitiligo. Our database lists the following as having Vitiligo as a symptom of that condition:
Causes: Vitiligo:
The cause of vitiligo is not known, but doctors and
researchers have several different theories. One theory is that people
develop antibodies that destroy the melanocytes in their own bodies.
Another theory is that melanocytes destroy themselves. Finally, some
people have reported that a single event such as sunburn or emotional
distress triggered vitiligo; however, these events have not been
scientifically proven to cause vitiligo. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers about Vitiligo: NIAMS)
The following conditions are listed as possible triggers for Vitiligo:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Vitiligo may be found in:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Vitiligo.
Although the cause of vitiligo is unknown, inheritance seems to be a definite etiologic factor because about 30% of patients with vitiligo have family members with the same condition. Other theories implicate enzymatic self-destructing mechanisms, autoimmune mechanisms, and abnormal neurogenic stimuli.
Some link exists between vitiligo and many other disorders that it often accompanies — thyroid dysfunction, pernicious anemia, Addison’s disease, aseptic meningitis, diabetes mellitus, photophobia, hearing defects, alopecia areata, uveitis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, and halo nevi.
The most frequently reported precipitating factor is a stressful physical or psychological event — severe sunburn, surgery, pregnancy, loss of a job, bereavement, or some other source of distress. Chemical agents, such as phenols and catechols, may also cause this condition.
Vitiligo affects about 1% of the population in the United States, usually people between ages 10 and 30, with peak incidence around age 20. It affects men and women equally, but women are more likely to seek treatment.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
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