In brief
Key points
- ✓Not contagious
- ✓Not anyone’s fault
- ✓Course varies
- ✓Sun protection matters
- ✓No guaranteed cure
Is vitiligo contagious?
No. It cannot be transmitted through touch, clothing, shared spaces or close contact.
Can vitiligo be treated?
Several medical options can be considered according to type, activity, body area and goals. Response is variable and may be partial.
Can I go into the sun?
Yes, with broad-spectrum protection, suitable clothing, shade and reapplication. Depigmented skin can burn more quickly.
Is vitiligo hereditary?
There is genetic susceptibility, but inheritance is not simple and a parent does not automatically pass vitiligo to a child.
Editorial basis: AWMF S2k guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo, register 013-093, version 2.0 dated 27 July 2026, valid until June 2031. Sources reviewed on 2 September 2026.
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