About 1 to 2 percent of the world’s population has vitiligo, a prevalence which is also seen in West Africa. While vitiligo can begin at any age, 95 percent of people who have vitiligo develop it before their 40th birthday. The disorder affects all races and both sexes equally. People with certain autoimmune diseases (such as hyperthyroidism) are more likely to get vitiligo than people who don’t have any autoimmune diseases, although the exact correlation is unknown.
Even though most people with vitiligo are in good general health, they face a greater risk of:
Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism (increased or decreased thyroid function);
Pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency);
Addison’s Disease (decreased adrenal function);
Alopecia Areata (round patches of hair loss); and/or
Uveitis (inflammation of the eyes).
Vitiligo may be genetic; about one third of all vitiligo patients say that other family members also have this condition. Children whose parents have the disorder are more likely to develop vitiligo, yet most children will not get vitiligo even if a parent has it.
