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A member asked:
What is the cause of vitiligo and can it be harmful?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Autoimmune condition: Hi. Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the skin cells that make pigment (melanocytes). Vitiligo is not harmful per se, but the skin can, of course, be easily sunburned. Vitiligo can also cluster with other autoimmune diseases that can be very dangerous or worse, if not treated (e.g., type 1 diabetes, Addison's disease, others).
Answered 8/3/2014
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