Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system mistakes healthy skin pigment cells called melanocytes for foreign cells and attacks them. As with any autoimmune disease, vitiligo may increase your risk of developing other health issues.
It is important to talk to your dermatologist, primary care physician, and other care providers about your vitiligo diagnosis so you can monitor for related health issues such as:
Thyroid Diseases
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are more common in people with vitiligo than in the general population.
Diabetes
Individuals with vitiligo are at higher risk for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Lupus
Individuals with vitiligo are more at risk for a variety of autoimmune diseases, including lupus.
Hearing Loss
Vitiligo could attack cells living inside the ear, causing some hearing loss.
Sunburn
Pigment protects skin from sun damage. Without pigment, you are significantly more vulnerable to sunburns.
Mental Health
More than half of individuals with vitiligo will experience mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, social isolation, or other issues.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. About 3%-8% of individuals with alopecia areata will also develop vitiligo.
Sjögren’s Disease
Individuals with vitiligo are more at risk for a variety of autoimmune diseases, including Sjögren’s Disease.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Vitiligo patients should be monitored for symptoms of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious anemia is yet another autoimmune disease that could occur alongside vitiligo (known in the medical field as a “comorbidity”).
References
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/vitiligo-medical-condition
https://www.myvitiligoteam.com/resources/conditions-related-to-vitiligo
Ezzedine K, Sheth V, Rodrigues M, Eleftheriadou V, Harris JE, Hamzavi IH, Pandya AG; Vitiligo Working Group. Vitiligo is not a cosmetic disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Nov;73(5):883-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.07.039. PMID: 26475548.
Gill L, Zarbo A, Isedeh P, Jacobsen G, Lim HW, Hamzavi I. Comorbid autoimmune diseases in patients with vitiligo: A cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Feb;74(2):295-302. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.063. Epub 2015 Oct 27. PMID: 26518171.