Causes. The exact cause of vitiligo is not well known but it is associated with a gene that is also strongly associated with other autoimmune disorders like thyroid conditions and Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease happens when melanocytes, melanin-producing cells in the skin, die or fail to function. Vitiligo is believed to be a heredity condition as it often runs in families. Many people also report a trigger event such as major stress following the death of a loved one or trauma, pregnancy, or severe sunburn shortly before discolored skin patches begin to appear.
