Patient/caregiver was educated on pathophysiology of vitiligo as follows:

1. Melanin is the pigment in the skin and hair, giving them the dark color. Melanin is produced by cells in the skin hair called melanocytes.
2. Vitiligo is a skin condition caused by patchy destruction to and loss of melanin producing cells in the body.
3. The destruction to melanocytes is mainly autoimmune mediated in which body’s own protective immune system becomes defective and produces antibodies directed against the melanocytes. These antibodies destroy the melanin producing melanocytes, leading to loss of the pigment.
4. Vitiligo can also occur secondary to familial inheritance. Exposure to chemicals and sunburn can also result in damage to melanocytes and development of vitiligo spots.
5. Vitiligo usually involves skin on the sun-exposed body parts, such as, hands, feet, face, lips, and hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eye lashes, and bearded areas.
6. As it is a patchy loss of melanocytes, individuals with the condition present with patchy loss of skin color and premature graying of hair in select spots.