Why does vitiligo happen?

Exactly why and how melanocytes are destroyed continues to baffle Dermatologists and Scientists.

What we do know, is that in a genetically predisposed individual, a trigger or stressful event causes what is termed oxidative stress within melanocytes, which then initiates autoimmune inflammation in the skin where activated white blood cells (T-lymphocytes) and inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) target the melanocytes causing their destruction.

The trigger or stressful event that precipitates vitiligo often remains unknown, but in some cases, emotional stress, sunburn, injury to the skin or exposure to damaging chemicals may be identified as the precipitant.