vitiligo

[ vit-l-ahy-goh, -ee-goh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a skin disorder characterized by smooth, white patches on various parts of the body, caused by the loss of the natural pigment.

vitiligo

/ ˌvɪtɪˈlaɪɡəʊ /

noun

1. another name for leucoderma

Other Words From

• vit·i·lig·i·nous [vit-l-, ij, -, uh, -n, uh, s], adjective
• viti·ligoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vitiligo¹

1650–60; < Latin vitilīgō form of skin eruption, apparently equivalent to *vitil ( is ) defective ( vit ( ium ) blemish + -ilis -ile ) + -īgō noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vitiligo¹

C17: from Latin: a skin disease, probably from vitium a blemish

Example Sentences

Labeled “the devil’s child” for her vitiligo at her orphanage, DePrince found hope in a magazine photo of an American ballerina in pointe shoes.

From Los Angeles Times

She has spoken in the past about how she was seen as a "devil's child" in the orphanage because she suffered from vitiligo, a condition in which patches of skin lose pigmentation.

From BBC

This strategy could also be adapted to treat other autoimmune skin diseases such as vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, the researchers say.

From Science Daily

The 54-year-old has a condition called vitiligo, which has caused pigment loss in parts of his skin.

From BBC

However, when not controlled properly, some of these skin TRM cells can contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and vitiligo.

From Science Daily