Does Vitiligo Increase The Risk Of Skin Cancer?

Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that causes the skin to lose its melanin (pigment). The immune system of an affected individual destroys healthy melanin cells or melanocytes. Melanin gives the skin its color. Lack of melanin results in blotchy white patches surrounded by the natural skin tone. Some people worry thinking vitiligo and skin cancer are somehow connected.

This article will help you learn whether vitiligo increases the risk of skin cancer.

There is a logical reason behind the myth that vitiligo increases the risk of skin cancer. Sun’s harsh UV rays cause skin damage, including skin cancer and sunburn.⁽¹⁾ Melanin pigment blocks out the sun’s damaging UV rays to a certain point and serves as a protective layer for the skin.

Melanin content in dark-skinned people is more compared to those with light skin. Thus, they are less likely to get sunburn. It might be logical to suspect that individuals with less melanin are at an increased risk of sunburn, including the risk of skin cancer.

However, research has something else to say. Data shows that vitiligo lowers an individual’s risk of developing skin cancer.⁽²⁾ A study has found that individuals with vitiligo were three times less likely to develop melanoma compared to those without vitiligo.⁽³⁾

A study conducted in 2013 surveyed 1, 307 individuals with nonsegmental vitiligo. In the case of nonsegmental vitiligo, the vitiligo patches appear on both sides of the body.⁽⁴⁾ It was discovered that people with nonsegmental vitiligo had a threefold lower probability of developing melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer than their respective partners, who did not have vitiligo.⁽⁵⁾ This suggests that vitiligo somehow protects the skin from skin cancer.

Another 2018 study reached a similar conclusion. Data from around 300, 000 individuals who have used the genetic testing service 23andMe, and 3, 000 other people from a cancer center were included in the study. The study researchers compared genes that were linked with vitiligo with genes linked with skin cancer. Ultimately it was found that there is an inverse relationship between the risk of vitiligo and the risk of three different types of skin cancer, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.⁽⁶⁾

But, why vitiligo might lower the risk of skin cancer?

The first theory is that HLA-AA and TYR, which are the genes that make a person susceptible to developing vitiligo also reduce their risk of developing malignant melanoma.⁽⁷⁾ This could be a reason why vitiligo protects against skin cancer.

Another theory involves the body’s immune system. Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disease, whereby the immune system mistakenly destroys normal melanocytes, thus leading to white patches on the skin. The overactive immune system of the body could also potentially fight off dangerous melanoma cells. Although, this theory does not explain why vitiligo could protect against nonmelanoma skin cancers.^{(6, 8)}

Vitiligo could cause skin cancer is just a myth. So, if you have vitiligo, do not stress yourself, as you are probably less likely to get skin cancer. Instead, focus on treating and managing your skin condition and try to protect your skin by taking good care.

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