Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that occurs when a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks pigment cells in their skin. This causes patches of pale or white skin. It may link to other autoimmune diseases.

Health experts do not know what causes vitiligo exactly, but a combination of genetic and environmental factors likely play a role. Some of these factors may also raise the risk of other autoimmune conditions.

Some studies have found that vitiligo links to other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid diseases, and lupus.

This article will explore whether there is a link between vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases.

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In a 2016 study of 1,098 people with vitiligo, nearly 20% had at least one other autoimmune condition. Additionally, nearly 3% had more than one other condition.

The most common co-occurring condition in people with vitiligo was hypothyroidism. Other common conditions in the study include alopecia areata, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

People with vitiligo may also have an increased risk of other autoimmune conditions, such as pernicious anemia, Addison’s disease, and Sjögren’s disease.

Learn more about vitiligo.

Thyroid disease affects the body’s production of thyroid hormone, which controls its use of energy. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. In hyperthyroidism, it produces too much of this hormone.

Thyroid disease can cause symptoms such as:

  • fatigue
  • unexplained weight gain or weight loss
  • difficulty tolerating cold or heat
  • mood changes
  • changes in heart rate
  • changes in menstrual periods
  • changes in libido or fertility

Common causes of thyroid disease include autoimmune thyroid disorders, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease.

Genetic studies have identified multiple genes that may affect the risk of both vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disorders, according to a 2017 review.

Hypothyroidism appears to be particularly common in people with vitiligo.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes patchy or total hair loss. It usually affects hair on the scalp and face, but it may also cause hair loss in other parts of the body.

The same 2016 study above found that alopecia areata was more common than average in people with vitiligo.

Learn more about alopecia areata.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks healthy joint tissues. It can also trigger inflammation in other parts of the body.

Common symptoms include:

  • joint pain
  • joint stiffness
  • fatigue

A 2016 study performed on the mestizo population of a central region of Mexico found, although low, a link between rheumatic diseases and vitiligo. It also found that the risk for vitiligo increases when associated with two or more autoimmune conditions.

Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis.

In IBD, the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the gastrointestinal tract.

This causes chronic inflammation and symptoms such as:

There are two main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

A 2022 study found that both vitiligo and IBD may share some genetic susceptibility, since there is a high frequency of IBD among those with vitiligo.

Learn more about IBD.

SLE is the most common type of lupus. It is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissues throughout the body. It may affect the skin, blood vessels, joints, brain, lungs, and kidneys.

SLE can cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as:

  • fatigue
  • rashes
  • joint pain
  • joint swelling
  • fevers

It may cause mild to severe damage to affected organs.

In the 2016 study, 0.3% of individuals with vitiligo had SLE. It was also found to be more common than average in people with vitiligo.

Learn more about lupus.

According to a 2018 review, some studies link vitiligo to other autoimmune conditions, including:

Diabetes mellitus may also be more common than average in people with vitiligo.

Research findings are mixed on these conditions. Some studies have found they are more common in people with vitiligo, while others have found no link.

People with vitiligo have an increase in the risk of other autoimmune conditions, which occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the body.

Hypothyroidism is particularly common in people with vitiligo. Rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, IBD, SLE, and some other autoimmune conditions may also be more common in those with vitiligo.

More research is necessary to understand why people with vitiligo have an increase in the risk of other autoimmune conditions. Vitiligo might share certain genetic or environmental risk factors with other conditions. Certain immune cells and processes that trigger inflammation in vitiligo also play a role in some other conditions.

People with vitiligo should let their doctor know if they experience any changes in their health.

If they have another autoimmune condition, their doctor can recommend a treatment plan.