The etiology of vitiligo is complex and the pathogenesis is still unclear. Current research suggests that vitiligo is an autoimmune related disease, which is a polygenic genetic disease, but its pathogenesis is influenced by multiple factors, including the patient’s own genetic background and oxidative stress, environmental factors, etc. Although the etiology is unclear, it has been established that the onset of vitiligo is not caused by pathogens and therefore is not contagious.
The worldwide population prevalence of vitiligo is about 0.1% to 2%, and it is a relatively common pigment loss disease. According to the site of onset, vitiligo can be divided into two categories: generalized and limited, manifested as skin mucous membrane white spots and/or white hair. The hair pigmentation in the non-pigmented areas is normal except for the whitish areas where the hair is variable white.
Although vitiligo is not contagious, but because of the white spots will affect the aesthetics, thus affecting the quality of life and psychological health of patients, so vitiligo patients should have a scientific understanding of vitiligo, active treatment, rational treatment.
Although vitiligo can not be completely cured yet, but through regular treatment (oral, topical drugs and phototherapy, autologous epidermal transplantation or autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation and other treatment measures), most patients can control the development of the white spots, the developed white spots will also have a certain degree of recoloration, or even clinical healing. However, due to its complex etiology, there is no definite measure to prevent the onset of the disease.