Vitiligo is a common disorder affecting all races and geographic areas with a prevalence of 0.5% to 2% worldwide.[6]Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Vitiligo: a review. Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-92.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506103
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32155629?tool=bestpractice.com
In the US, the population-based prevalence estimate of overall vitiligo in adults (diagnosed and undiagnosed combined) is between 0.76% and 1.11%.[7]Gandhi K, Ezzedine K, Anastassopoulos KP, et al. Prevalence of vitiligo among adults in the United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Jan 1;158(1):43-50.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8600454
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34787670?tool=bestpractice.com
Among patients with diagnosed vitiligo, the point prevalence estimate was 0.46% (0.37% nonsegmental vitiligo; 0.09% segmental vitiligo).[7]Gandhi K, Ezzedine K, Anastassopoulos KP, et al. Prevalence of vitiligo among adults in the United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2022 Jan 1;158(1):43-50.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8600454
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34787670?tool=bestpractice.com
Vitiligo may manifest at any time in an individual's life. However, almost half of patients develop vitiligo before the age of 20 years, and about 80% before the age of 30 years.[1]Ezzedine K, Lim HW, Suzuki T, et al. Revised classification/nomenclature of vitiligo and related issues: the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2012 May;25(3):E1-13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3511780
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22417114?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Vitiligo: a review. Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-92.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506103
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32155629?tool=bestpractice.com
Men and women are equally affected.[6]Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Vitiligo: a review. Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-92.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/506103
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32155629?tool=bestpractice.com
There is an increased prevalence in people with a family history of the condition.[8]Shankar DS, Shashikala K, Madala R. Clinical patterns of vitiligo and its associated comorbidities: a prospective controlled cross-sectional study in South India. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2012 May;3(2):114-8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3481882
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23130284?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]Majumder PP, Nordlund JJ, Nath SK. Pattern of familial aggregation of vitiligo. Arch Dermatol. 1993 Aug;129(8):994-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8352624?tool=bestpractice.com
Studies indicate genetic heterogeneity with respect to susceptibility to vitiligo.[1]Ezzedine K, Lim HW, Suzuki T, et al. Revised classification/nomenclature of vitiligo and related issues: the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2012 May;25(3):E1-13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3511780
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22417114?tool=bestpractice.com
[10]Taieb A, Picardo M. Clinical practice: vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 8;360(2):160-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19129529?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Zhang Y, Cai Y, Shi M, et al. The prevalence of vitiligo: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 27;11(9):e0163806.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5038943
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27673680?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Spritz RA, Santorico SA. The genetic basis of vitiligo. J Invest Dermatol. 2021 Feb;141(2):265-73.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32778407?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Shen C, Gao J, Sheng Y, et al. Genetic susceptibility to vitiligo: GWAS approaches for identifying vitiligo susceptibility genes and loci. Front Genet. 2016 Feb 1;7:3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4740779
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26870082?tool=bestpractice.com