Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the cells that give skin its colour, leaving milky-white patches. It isn’t contagious, it isn’t caused by eating fish with milk, and although there’s no cure, dermatologists have treatments that can stop it spreading and bring colour back to many patches.
What is vitiligo?
Skin colour comes from melanin, made by cells called melanocytes. In vitiligo, the US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) explains, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys these melanocytes. Where they’re gone, the skin turns white.
Anyone can get vitiligo, at any age, but many people first notice patches before 20. It’s more likely if someone in the family has it, or if you have another autoimmune condition such as thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis. Thyroid disease is the most common link: DermNet notes it can affect up to 15% of adults and 5–10% of children with vitiligo, which is why your doctor may order a thyroid test. Worldwide, vitiligo affects about 0.5–2% of people.
Sunburn, emotional stress and contact with certain chemicals can trigger new patches or make existing ones worse.
Types of vitiligo
Doctors mainly sort vitiligo into two types, and the type affects how it behaves and how it’s treated.
| Type | What it looks like | How it usually behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Non-segmental (most common) | Patches on both sides of the body, often matching: hands, around the eyes and mouth, knees, elbows, feet | Can keep spreading over time, often unpredictably |
| Segmental | Patches on one side or one segment of the body, often a single area | Often starts in childhood, spreads for about 6–12 months, then usually stops |
Segmental vitiligo accounts for roughly 15–30% of cases in children, according to DermNet.
Is vitiligo contagious?
No. The NHS puts it plainly: vitiligo isn’t caused by an infection and you can’t catch it from someone who has it. Hugging, shaking hands, sharing a plate of food, sharing towels, swimming in the same pool or marrying someone with vitiligo carries zero risk.
Vitiligo also has nothing to do with leprosy. That confusion still causes a lot of harm in India, and it’s worth correcting gently whenever you hear it.
Does eating fish with milk cause vitiligo?
No. This is one of the most common beliefs in Indian homes, but it doesn’t hold up.
- The cause is inside the immune system, not the stomach. Vitiligo happens when immune cells attack melanocytes in the skin. There’s no known way for a fish-and-milk meal to switch that on.
- When it was tested, there was no link. A case-control study from Mayo Hospital, Lahore compared 40 people with vitiligo against 63 people without it. The fish-with-dairy habit was just as common in both groups (57.5% vs 61.9%), and the authors found no association.
- Plenty of people eat this combination without any problem. Bengali doi maach, for example, is fish cooked in curd.
- No diet has been shown to treat it either. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says more research is needed to know whether any diet or supplement can effectively treat vitiligo.
The same goes for the rule against “white foods” or sour foods like lemon, curd and amla. Cutting them out won’t stop vitiligo spreading, and stripping a growing child’s diet of milk, curd and fruit can do real harm.
Treatments that have evidence
There’s no permanent cure, but treatment can slow or stop the spread and restore colour, especially on the face. Expect months, not weeks. Your dermatologist will choose based on your age, the type of vitiligo and where the patches are.
| Treatment | Usually used for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Steroid creams or ointments | Small areas of non-segmental vitiligo | Used for a limited time because long-term use can thin the skin and cause stretch marks. Use on the face only if your doctor says so. |
| Tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimus cream | Face, neck and other thin skin | Don’t thin the skin, so can be used longer. Can cause burning and itching at first. |
| Narrowband UVB phototherapy (NB-UVB) | Widespread vitiligo, or when creams haven’t worked | Usually twice a week in a clinic, judged after 3–4 months |
| Laser light therapy | Smaller patches | Aims the light only at the affected skin |
| Ruxolitinib cream (a JAK inhibitor) | Non-segmental vitiligo, age 12 and over | Approved in the US; see note below on India |
| Skin grafting or cell transplant | Stable vitiligo that hasn’t responded to other treatments | Only when no new or growing patches for about 12 months |
Creams. The NHS suggests a steroid cream once a day for adults with non-segmental vitiligo covering less than 10% of the body, with a review after one month.
Light therapy. NB-UVB is usually given twice a week for a trial of 3–4 months, and continued for up to 1–2 years if colour starts returning, according to DermNet. In one analysis it gave a marked response in 36% of people after 12 months. The face and trunk respond best; hands and feet respond poorly. The NHS advises against sunlamps bought for home use.
Ruxolitinib cream. This is the newest option. The AAD notes it’s the only medicine the US FDA has approved to restore colour in vitiligo, for people aged 12 and over with non-segmental vitiligo. In trials, about 30% of patients got back at least 75% of their colour by week 24. In India, the picture is different: in August 2025 a CDSCO expert committee cleared a Phase III trial of ruxolitinib cream in Indian patients aged 12 and over. That’s permission to run a trial, not to sell the cream. As of October 2026 we couldn’t find any record of it being approved for sale in India, so ask your dermatologist before buying any imported or online version.
For people who have lost colour over more than half the body, some dermatologists offer depigmentation, which removes the remaining pigment so the skin is one even shade. It’s permanent.
Results don’t always last. The AAD says about 40% of people see some colour loss within a year of stopping treatment, so many people need maintenance treatment.
Sun protection and cosmetic camouflage
White patches have no melanin, so they can’t tan, only burn. DermNet notes that sunburn may make vitiligo spread, and tanning of the skin around the patches makes the contrast more obvious.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 50 or above on exposed patches, as the NHS recommends.
- Wear full-sleeved cotton clothes, a hat or a dupatta, and use shade when the sun is strongest.
- If you avoid the sun a lot, ask your doctor about vitamin D. The NHS suggests considering a daily 10 microgram supplement. Our post on vitamin D deficiency covers the signs.
Camouflage creams are colour-matched to your skin and waterproof. The NHS says they can last up to 4 days on the body and 12–18 hours on the face. Self-tanning lotions and skin dyes are other options. These don’t treat vitiligo, but many people find them a big help for weddings, interviews or just everyday confidence.
Why unproven home remedies can make things worse
Raw garlic, lemon juice, ginger, strong herbal pastes and “white patch oils” are often rubbed on patches for months. They can irritate or even burn the skin, and that matters more in vitiligo than in most conditions.
Vitiligo can show up at places where the skin has been injured, a pattern called the Koebner phenomenon. DermNet lists cuts, friction, burns and inflamed skin as triggers. So a remedy that causes a rash or a chemical burn can leave you with a bigger white patch than you started with. If you also have eczema or sensitive skin, the risk of irritation is higher.
The bigger cost is time. NIAMS notes that treatment can be very effective at stopping vitiligo from progressing, and segmental vitiligo does most of its spreading in the first 6–12 months. Months spent on remedies that don’t work are months without treatment that could have held it back.
Living with vitiligo in India: stigma and emotional health
For many people the hardest part of vitiligo isn’t physical. A 2026 systematic review of beliefs and stigma found that patients in India reported being shunned, held back at work and facing difficulties with marriage, and that women felt this more sharply. Some family members still believe the condition is contagious or linked to leprosy.
The NHS notes that problems with confidence and self-esteem are common. If you’re struggling:
- Talk about it. Support groups, online or in person, help many people feel less alone.
- Keep a short answer ready for nosy questions: “It’s vitiligo, an immune condition, and it isn’t catching.”
- If low mood, anxiety or avoiding people is affecting your daily life, call Tele-MANAS, the government’s free mental health helpline, on 14416. A counsellor or psychiatrist can help, and that support counts as part of your treatment.
If your child has vitiligo, tell the class teacher what it is, so other children get a correct explanation rather than playground rumours.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist (skin specialist) rather than relying on advice from friends or a chemist if:
- You notice any new white or pale patch. Other conditions can also cause light patches, and some need completely different treatment.
- Patches are spreading quickly or new ones keep appearing.
- Your child has white patches.
- Patches appear around the eyes, lips or genitals.
- A home remedy has caused redness, blistering, burning or peeling.
- Your patches burn badly in the sun.
- You have signs of a thyroid problem, such as unexplained weight change, a racing heart, tiredness or feeling unusually hot or cold. Our guide to overactive thyroid symptoms lists more.
- Vitiligo is affecting your mood, sleep, work or relationships.
Frequently asked questions
Can vitiligo be cured completely?
Not at present. Treatment can stop it spreading and bring back colour, sometimes fully, especially on the face. Some colour may fade again after treatment stops, so follow-up matters.
Is vitiligo hereditary?
Genes play a part, and having a family member with vitiligo raises your chances. But it isn’t passed down in a fixed, predictable way, so a parent with vitiligo doesn’t mean a child will definitely get it.
Can I marry someone who has vitiligo?
Yes. Vitiligo can’t spread to a partner through touch, food or sex. It doesn’t change how a person lives, works or cares for a family.
Should I stop eating sour or white foods?
No. There’s no good evidence that any food causes vitiligo or that avoiding curd, milk, fish, lemon or amla stops it spreading. A balanced diet is fine.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor. If you have symptoms or a health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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