CAN VITILIGO BE CURED?
ON THIS PAGE
- Why Theres No Cure
- Managing Vitiligo
- Treatment
Can Vitiligo Be Cured?
NewYork-Presbyterian dermatologist Andrew Alexis, MD, discusses whether vitiligo can be cured and potential treatments.
Vitiligo, like other autoimmune conditions, cannot be cured. While it isnt life threatening, it can be life altering. Because the white or light-colored patches of skin that characterize the disease are so obvious, it can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety for many people, according to research.
Vitiligo is linked to a number of other conditions that are potentially serious, so its important to be vigilant about doctors appointments and keep an eye out for signs of medical problems known to be related to the condition. Otherwise, managing vitiligo is largely a matter of finding a treatment that works for you among the increasing number of options available.
Why Theres No Cure for Vitiligo
Autoimmune disorders, such as vitiligo, occur when the immune system mistakes healthy cells for dangerous ones and attacks them. In the case of vitiligo, the cells under assault are melanocytes, which are responsible for creating melanin, the chemical that gives skin color. As they die off, the color drains from the affected areas of the skin.
Because the immune system is vital for protecting the body from true threats, such as the pollen that can trigger allergic reactions and the viruses and bacteria that can lead to life-threatening illnesses, broadly suppressing it in the long term is not a viable approach to treating vitiligo, or any other autoimmune disease.
This means managing a disorder such as vitiligo requires maintaining a delicate balance between decreasing the activity of the immune system enough to prevent the loss of pigment, but not so much that the body cant defend itself, says Shoshana Marmon, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at New York Medical College in New York City.
John Harris, MD, PhD, the founding director of the vitiligo clinic and research center and chair of the department of dermatology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester, likens vitiligo treatment to maintaining a healthy yard. There are weed killers that kill all plants, but we want a weed killer that kills just the weeds and spares the grass, he says. That means developing targeted treatments that are both safe for the immune system and efficacious for vitiligo.
Poll
How has vitiligo most impacted your social life?
Its made me self-conscious in social situationsIts led to questions and stares from strangersIve had to avoid certain activities to protect my skinIt hasnt significantly impacted my social life
The Importance of Managing Vitiligo
Although vitiligo isnt a deadly disease, it is associated with a number of other conditions that can be serious. So, its important to be aware of these and look out for the symptoms.Research has found, for example, that people with vitiligo have an increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid, particularly Hashimotos thyroiditis. The authors recommended thyroid screening, especially for older people with a family history of thyroid disease.
Studies have also found an increased risk of other autoimmune conditions. One research review found a link between vitiligo and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes, as well as alopecia areata and myasthenia gravis, among others.
Whats more, melanocytes exist in parts of the body other than the skin, leaving those areas vulnerable to vitiligo. There are pigment cells in the eye, the inner ear, the heart, and the brain, says Dr. Harris. Theres evidence that having vitiligo increases the risk of hearing loss and, in rare cases, even blindness and brain inflammation.
For this reason, if you have vitiligo, its important to be mindful of symptoms such as fatigue, sudden weight loss or gain, changes in your vision or hearing, muscle and joint pain, and rashes, which may indicate the presence of another autoimmune condition. You also should see your dermatologist regularly to keep tabs on how your vitiligo is progressing, Dr. Marmon says, and, if there are signs you may have a related condition, get a referral to the appropriate specialist.
Marmon also points out that many people with vitiligo develop depression. The effect of vitiligo on appearance can lead to stress and self-esteem issues, which negatively affect quality of life, she says. She recommends seeing a therapist for help dealing with any mental or emotional issues that arise from having a visible skin condition.
How Vitiligo Is Treated
While its true theres no cure for vitiligo, there are a variety of approaches for managing it and making it less noticeable.
Corticosteroids and Calcineurin Inhibitors
These medications are applied directly to affected areas of the skin. They work by blocking the immune system and promoting repigmentation. Theyre most often used for small patches of vitiligo.
Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors stop the production of certain proteins that immune cells use to communicate with each other, making these drugs a more targeted treatment approach than topical steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. While most are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for vitiligo, oral JAK inhibitors have been prescribed off-label to treat the condition for some time.
In 2022, the FDA approved the first JAK inhibitor for vitiligo, a topical medication called ruxolitinib (Opzelura) for people 12 and up. It can only be used on up to 10 percent of the bodys surface area, however, so it may not offer adequate results for some people with more extensive depigmentation.
Oral Steroids
When vitiligo is spreading very quickly and JAK inhibitors arent working, a doctor may prescribe oral steroids temporarily to suppress the immune system, Harris says. But, due to potentially severe side effects, the recommendation is that they only be used for up to three months at a time (six months maximum), making them a short-term fix at best.
Narrowband UVB Therapy
This type of phototherapy (light therapy) is the oldest treatment for vitiligo. In India, [ancient] religious texts talk about vitiligo, says Harris. People would chew on seeds and then sit in the sun.
In modern times, phototherapy for vitiligo involves directing ultraviolet B light rays at affected areas of the skin in a medical setting, for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. It may require two to three sessions per week, depending on the severity of the vitiligo, to shrink existing patches and help prevent new ones from forming.
Melanocyte Transplantation Surgery
For someone whose vitiligo is stable, a doctor can surgically transplant melanocytes harvested from healthy skin onto depigmented skin to restore color.
Depigmentation
This treatment was the only one that was FDA-approved for vitiligo until ruxolitinib got the green light. A topical medication called monobenzone ether of hydroquinone (MBEH) is used to lighten unaffected areas of the skin that are adjacent to vitiligo patches to make the differences in color less stark. Harris says not many of his patients like this option, but it is one to consider if other treatments dont work.
The Takeaway
- Vitiligo, like other autoimmune conditions, has no cure; there are a number of treatments used to manage the skin condition, however.
- Treatments include topical creams, oral steroids and JAK inhibitors (mostly used off-label), and light therapy using ultraviolet B light.
- Other treatments include transplanting healthy skin cells that create the chemical that colors skin to repigment affected areas, or using a topical cream to remove pigment from areas adjacent to those affected by the condition, as a way to reduce the differences in color.
Resources We Trust
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- Mayo Clinic: Vitiligo: Symptoms & Causes
- Cleveland Clinic: Vitiligo
- MedlinePlus: Vitiligo
- British Association of Dermatologists: Vitiligo
- American Academy of Dermatology Association: Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
SourcesResources
- Autoimmune Diseases. Cleveland Clinic. October 22, 2024.
- Salama AH et al. Unveiling the Unseen Struggles: A Comprehensive Review of Vitiligo's Psychological, Social, and Quality of Life Impacts. Cureus. September 11, 2023.
- Lee JH et al. Comorbidities in Patients with Vitiligo: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. May 2023.
- Vitiligo. Cleveland Clinic. November 23, 2022.
- Autoimmune Disease Treatment and Management. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. March 21, 2025.
- Chivu AM et al. VitiligoThyroid Disease Association: When, in Whom, and Why Should It Be Suspected? A Systematic Review. Journal of Personalized Medicine. December 12, 2022.
- Understanding Autoimmune Diseases: When Your Body Turns Against You. National Institutes of Health: News in Health. June 2022.
- Rodrigues Mendona C et al. New and Emerging Treatments for Vitiligo: A Narrative Review. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. February 6, 2026.
- Ferreira C et al. JAK Inhibitors for the Treatment of Vitiligo: Current Evidence and Emerging Therapeutic Potential. Drugs. September 25, 2025.
- FDA Approves Topical Treatment Addressing Repigmentation in Vitiligo in Patients Aged 12 and Older. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 19, 2022.
- Seneschal J et al. Worldwide Expert Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Vitiligo: Position Statement From the International Vitiligo Task Force Part 2: Specific Treatment Recommendations. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. September 15, 2023.
- Bishnoi A et al. Phototherapy for Vitiligo: A Narrative Review on the Clinical and Molecular Aspects, and Recent Literature. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. April 4, 2024.
- Hamzavi IH et al. Effective and Durable Repigmentation for Stable Vitiligo: A Randomized Within-Subject Controlled Trial Assessing Treatment With Autologous Skin Cell Suspension Transplantation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. December 2024.
- FDA Clears Incytes Opzelura for Vitiligo Launch. Vitiligo Research Foundation. July 19, 2022.
Meet Our Experts
Ross Radusky, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum la...
Elizabeth Yun
Author
Elizabeth Yun has been a writer and editor for over 15 years. Over the course of her career she has covered lifestyle, celebrity entertainment, and tech for a variety of print and ...
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