Vitiligo develops as white spots in the skin that vary in size and location. The spots occur when melanocytes are destroyed and melanin can no longer be produced. Melanocytes normally occur throughout the skin, and in the hair follicles, mouth, eyes, and some parts of the central nervous system. With vitiligo, pigment cells can be lost in any of these areas.

Vitiligo affects at least 1% of the population. About half of the people who develop this skin disorder experience some pigment loss before the age of 20, and about one third of all Vitiligo patients say that other family members also have the condition.

Vitiligo is a of form of leukoderma, which is a general term that means white skin. Severe trauma, like a burn, can also destroy pigment cells resulting in leukoderma. Stretch marks, acne scars, post-surgical and traumatic scars can also produce a similar loss of pigment. Until recently the only treatments available included UV phototherapy and topical or injected corticosteroids. And while none of these worked very well, there were some forms of leukoderma for which there was no known method of repigmentation.