Do people with vitiligo eventually turn all white?

Author: Prof. Ignacio Shields IV  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

Vitiligo can affect all areas of the body, and most people who have the condition experience white patches on multiple areas of their body. The lighter patches can be any size and often grow over time. An area of skin may start looking lighter and eventually turn completely white.

Do people with vitiligo eventually lose all pigment?

In most cases, pigment loss spreads and eventually involves most of the skin. Occasionally, the skin gets its color back.

How to make whole body white in vitiligo?

Depigmentation. Some people with full-body vitiligo decide to focus on lightening the remaining pigmented skin areas instead of darkening the white patches. A process called depigmentation involves bleaching darker skin using solutions with a chemical called hydroquinone.

Does vitiligo fade over time?

Treatment cannot cure vitiligo.

Treatment can help restore lost skin color, but the color (repigmentation) may fade over time.

Can vitiligo go away as you get older?

And while the Mayo Clinic notes that there's a chance your skin will stop losing pigment even without treatment, or even regain its color, it's more likely that your skin will continue losing pigment over greater areas and longer periods of time.

Vitiligo, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Can vitamin D reverse vitiligo?

Conclusions. Based on our findings, vitamin D levels were significantly low in patients with vitiligo in comparison with controls; however, we did not observe any significant effect of vitamin D on the occurrence and extension of vitiligo lesions.

Do people with vitiligo go completely white?

Vitiligo often starts as a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. The centre of a patch may be white, with paler skin around it. If there are blood vessels under the skin, the patch may be slightly pink, rather than white. The edges of the patch may be smooth or irregular.

Did Michael Jackson really have vitiligo?

Jackson usually avoided wearing patterned clothing to avoid attention to the disorder. Jackson's autopsy confirmed that he had vitiligo. His skin was found to have reduced (though not absent) melanocytes, the cells active in skin pigmentation. Vitiligo occurs in three different patterns.

What triggers vitiligo to spread?

Vitiligo may flare or spread due to: Stress. Sunburn, cuts, or other skin damage. Chemical exposure.

At what age does vitiligo peak?

Typically, there are two peaks of onset, early (<10 years) or late (around 30 years). 41% of segmental vitiligo cases start before the age of 10. 50% of non-segmental vitiligo cases start before the age of 20. 80% of all cases present before the age of 30.

Can vitiligo reverse itself?

The authors have reported a case of vitiligo in Saudi Arabia that has shown spontaneous reversal of vitiligo manifested in the form of repigmentation of macular lesions. It is an extremely rare phenomenon, as the majority of vitiligo patients show a progressive pattern.

What is the root cause of vitiligo?

Vitiligo occurs when immune cells destroy the cells that make brown pigment (melanocytes). This destruction is thought to be due to an autoimmune problem. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system, which normally protects the body from infection, attacks and destroys healthy body tissue instead.

Has anyone ever gotten rid of vitiligo?

No drug can stop the process of vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone, in combination or with light therapy, can help restore some color. Drugs that control inflammation. Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin might return color.

What famous people have vitiligo?

Famous Vitiligans
  • Winnie HarlowTop model. ...
  • Michael JacksonThe King of Pop (1958-2009) ...
  • Lee Thomas4x Emmy Award Nominee. ...
  • Big Krizz KalikoRapper and singer. ...
  • Yvette FieldingBroadcaster, producer and actress. ...
  • Rasheed Abdul WallaceProfessional basketball player. ...
  • Eddie "Among Ed" Tongol PanlilioRoman Catholic priest.

Are you born with vitiligo?

Piebaldism occurs when a portion of your skin doesn't have melanocytes, which are cells that produce pigment (melanin). You're born with piebaldism. Vitiligo occurs when your body has melanocytes, but they're destroyed. You develop vitiligo during your lifetime.

How many plastic surgeries did Michael have?

For years, fans watched the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, 's appearance undergo dramatic changes. Despite the visible alterations, the singer publicly acknowledged only two nose surgeries and attributed his increasingly lighter skin to vitiligo.

When does vitiligo stop spreading?

Of course, the good news is that “what you see is what you get” after about 6 months, it doesn't commonly spread to affect other areas after this. There are exceptions, of course, which I'll talk about below (that's called mixed vitiligo).

How to reverse vitiligo naturally?

A 2018 review suggests various natural remedies, including ginkgo biloba, green tea, and aloe vera, may improve vitiligo symptoms. However, more research is necessary to determine their safety and effectiveness. People should speak with a doctor before trying natural remedies to ensure they are safe.

What ethnicity gets vitiligo?

The highest adjusted prevalence estimates were found among Hispanic/Latino patients and patients aged 70 years or older. Meaning The findings suggest that Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, and older individuals have the greatest burden of vitiligo in the US. Importance Vitiligo has substantial psychosocial consequences.

Does vitiligo decrease life expectancy?

It's important to clarify a common misconception: vitiligo does not affect life expectancy. Vitiligo is primarily a cosmetic condition, characterized by the loss of skin pigment.

What should not be eaten in vitiligo?

Limiting red and processed meats, refined grains, fried foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages also provides health benefits. A person can talk with a doctor to learn whether they might benefit from changing their diet or taking a supplement.

Can B12 reverse vitiligo?

Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid

This is why it is always recommended to take these two vitamins together in order to treat vitiligo. According to some scientific studies, a combination of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation and sun exposure is a good strategy to regain natural skin color.

Can you stop vitiligo from progressing?

There is currently no known way to prevent or cure vitiligo. However, you can sometimes prevent your symptoms from getting worse or spreading. Some vitiligo prevention strategies—such as diet and taking vitamins—are focused on boosting the immune system.

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