An article published in The Journal of Dermatology discussed that vitiligo affects 0.1%-2% of the population worldwide. It precipitates from selective loss of melanocytes that render characteristic white patches on the skin.

The authors informed that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and nearly 80% of the risk is from genetic factors. The remaining risk is from environmental triggers. Melanocytes from patients with vitiligo are more prone to oxidative stress—they release exosomes and inflammatory cytokines that lead to activation of the innate immune response and subsequently to adaptive immune response. These cause disease progression through interferon (IFN)-γ-induced chemokine secretion from surrounding keratinocytes to further recruit T cells to the skin. 

Meanwhile, CD8 tissue-resident memory T cells are instrumental in long-term maintenance and potential relapse of vitiligo in humans through cytokine-mediated recruitment of T cells from the circulation. 

Source: The Journal of Dermatology. 2021;48(3):252-270. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15743