Can it be passed on?

[gardener]

My wife and I are thinking of starting a family. My wife has vitiligo and we've heard it could be hereditary. There is differing information about this. What is the likelihood of our children developing the condition?
thanks - Mike

[Dr Adil Sheraz]

Thank you for your question.


Vitiligo is thought be an autoimmune disease and as yet the exact cause has not been elucidated. The condition is though to be multi factorial which means that there is a combination of both genetic factors and environmental triggers (which have not been identified as yet). It is thought that between 25% and 50% of patients with vitiligo will know a relative with the condition and around 6% will have a sibling with vitiligo. It is also thought that a child will have approximately a 5% chance of having vitiligo if a parent has the condition. However if you have vitiligo then by no means does it follow that your children will also have it.

Dr Adil Sheraz
Insta Dr_adilsheraz