Vitiligo is classified as an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. This autoimmune response leads to the progressive loss of pigment in patches on the skin, resulting in the characteristic white or lighter-colored areas. In individuals with vitiligo the immune system may recognize melanocytes as foreign cells and initiate an inflammato