Vitiligo is a condition characterized by what?

Vitiligo is a condition characterized by hypopigmentation, which refers to the loss of skin pigment resulting in lighter patches of skin. This occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color), are destroyed or cease functioning. In vitiligo, areas of the skin lose their normal color, leading to clearly defined lighter patches that can vary in size and location on the body. This condition is often progressive and can impact an individual's appearance and emotional well-being.

Understanding that hypopigmentation is central to vitiligo helps differentiate it from other conditions like hyperpigmentation, which involves an excess of pigment, or infections and inflammatory responses that would not typically result in localized areas of skin losing pigment in such a manner.