In brief
Key points
- ✓Melanin contributes to skin colour
- ✓Melanocytes produce pigment
- ✓Distribution matters as much as quantity
- ✓Hair follicles can contain cell reservoirs
- ✓UV protection is reduced in white patches
Melanin
Melanin is a group of natural pigments that contributes to skin and hair colour and to part of the skin’s natural protection against ultraviolet radiation.
Melanocytes
Melanocytes produce and transfer pigment to neighbouring epidermal cells. Their loss or impaired function in a defined area creates the characteristic depigmentation of vitiligo.
Why follicles matter
Cells around hair follicles can contribute to repigmentation. This helps explain why colour often returns as small dots around hairs and why body areas respond differently.
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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