What causes your body to turn white?

Author: Bennett Goldner  |  Last update: Thursday, June 19, 2025

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. It's unclear exactly what causes these pigment cells to fail or die.

What does it mean when your body turns white?

Vitiligo is caused by the lack of a pigment called melanin in the skin. Melanin is produced by skin cells called melanocytes, and it gives your skin its colour. In vitiligo, there are not enough working melanocytes to produce enough melanin in your skin. This causes white patches to develop on your skin or hair.

What deficiency causes white skin?

Deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D and vitamin E can cause white patches on the skin. While harmless, these white spots indicate that you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

What disease causes skin whitening?

Vitiligo is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes – skin cells that make pigment – are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn a milky-white color.

Why does human skin turn white?

Some researchers suggest that human populations over the past 50,000 years have changed from dark-skinned to light-skinned and vice versa as they migrated to different UV zones, and that such major changes in pigmentation may have happened in as little as 100 generations (≈2,500 years) through selective sweeps.

Doctor explains Raynaud's disease and syndrome | Causes, prevention and treatment

What does white skin indicate?

Paleness may be the result of decreased blood supply to the skin. It can also be due to decreased number of red blood cells (anemia). Paleness of the skin is not the same as loss of pigment from the skin. Paleness is related to blood flow in the skin rather than deposit of melanin in the skin.

What makes body skin white?

Skin whitening is possible to some extent through various methods: Topical Treatments: Over-the-counter products with ingredients like vitamin C, hydroquinone, and kojic acid can help lighten the skin. Professional Treatments: Chemical peels, laser treatments, and microdermabrasion can also lighten the skin.

How do you treat white skin disease?

Treatments can include: Medicines or medicated skin creams, such as corticosteroids or a calcineurin inhibitor, which may be able to return color to the white patches of skin. Use of light (phototherapy) to help return color to the skin. There are several different forms of light therapy.

What mutation causes white skin?

Two genes are SLC24A5 and SLC45A2 that lead to skin depigmentation and, therefore, Europeans' pale skin today. The third gene, HERC2/OCA2, causes blue eyes, and it contributes to light skin color and the blonde hair.

Which foods increase melanin in skin?

Eating Antioxidant-Rich Foods
  • Leafy greens (kale, spinach, or collard greens)
  • Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, and other nuts)
  • Whole grains.
  • Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
  • Beans (red beans, pinto beans, black beans, and other legumes)
  • Berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)

Which vitamin makes your skin white?

Vitamin C aids in the whitening process by priming the skin cells and making them more susceptible to the effects of Glutathione. ✔ Citrus Bioflavonoids are powerful antioxidants that reverse damage, resulting in visible signs of healthy, more vibrant skin.

What age does vitiligo start?

The average age of onset of vitiligo is in the mid-twenties, but it can appear at any age. The size and number of patches varies from person to person. The condition tends to progress over time, with larger areas of the skin losing pigment.

Does iron deficiency cause white skin?

Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include: Extreme fatigue. Weakness. Pale skin.

What can be mistaken for vitiligo?

Here's a look at seven other skin conditions that are sometimes mistaken for vitiligo and how they differ from it.
  • Albinism. Masego Morulane/Getty Images; Canva. ...
  • Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Adobe Stock. ...
  • Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH) iStock. ...
  • Melasma. Duangjan J/Shutterstock. ...
  • Pityriasis Alba. ...
  • Scleroderma. ...
  • Tinea Versicolor.

When should I worry about skin discoloration?

Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have: Skin discoloration that causes significant concern. Persistent, unexplained darkening or lightening of the skin. Any skin sore or lesion that changes shape, size, or color may be a sign of skin cancer.

What is it called when your whole body is white?

Albinism. This is a rare, inherited disorder. It reduces the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.

What diseases turn your skin white?

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches of skin become lighter or white. It's unclear exactly what causes these pigment cells to fail or die.

Why did people's skin turn white?

People living in northern latitudes often don't get enough UV to synthesize vitamin D in their skin so natural selection has favored two genetic solutions to that problem—evolving pale skin that absorbs UV more efficiently or favoring lactose tolerance to be able to digest the sugars and vitamin D naturally found in ...

Who is most likely to get albinism?

Albinism affects people from all races. Most children with albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds. Some people with albinism have white hair and very light blue eyes; others have blonde hair and blue eyes, and some even have brown hair and brown eyes.

What to do if your skin turns white?

Treatment options for vitiligo include:
  1. low-dose corticosteroid creams, like 1-percent hydrocortisone cream.
  2. Elidel cream, a nonsteroidal formula.
  3. ultraviolet light treatment in combination with topical medications.
  4. bleaching the skin surrounding large white patches to blend them.
  5. tattooing over white patches.

What is a skin infection that turns white?

Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection that causes discolored skin. People with tinea versicolor develop white, yellow, red, pink or brown spots. It's caused by an overgrowth of a type of yeast (fungus) that's naturally found on your skin. Hot weather, humidity and sun exposure can make tinea versicolor worse.

What is the life expectancy for people with vitiligo?

Vitiligo affects approximately 0.5% to 1% of the population. Its prevalence is similar in both genders and in all races. It can appear at any age, but it often starts before the age of 20. The disease does not affect life expectancy.

Which drink makes skin white?

Regular consumption of orange juice can lead to a brighter, more even skin tone, making it an excellent choice for skin whitening and lightening. Rich in vitamin C, lemon juice is a potent antioxidant that prevents hyperpigmentation, removes toxins, and protects against photodamage.

Are glutathione injections expensive?

Glutathione injection price in India

There are certain factors like number of injections required/ length of treatment, quality, and maintenance that affect the price of these brightening injections. Generally, this price ranges from INR 13,000 to INR 40,000 per injection in India.

Why is my skin showing white?

White spots on the skin can develop as a result of sun exposure, a fungal infection, or a steroid that was injected or applied topically. The white spots may also be from an underlying skin condition, such as pityriasis alba, vitiligo, or milia.

Previous article
Is shampoo regulated by the FDA?
Next article
What do you do with your hair during a massage?