Health
Vitiligo genetic, not caused by spiritual attack — Experts
Specialists in skin and metabolic syndrome disorders have corrected the notion that vitiligo is caused by witchcraft, spiritual attacks or curses, asserting that the condition is a genetic, hormonal, and autoimmune disorder that occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning properly, causing pale white patches on the skin.
The leading specialists stated that the stigma associated with people living with vitiligo in the country made them suffer social isolation, discrimination, psychological trauma for patients, and, in some cases, delayed diagnosis, treatment, and care.
The dermatology and endocrinology experts stressed that the condition is not contagious or caused by supernatural forces, stating that while vitiligo is not currently reversible, it can be managed with topical, systemic, and surgical treatment options.
In interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the specialists called for increased public education to end the stigmatisation of persons living with the condition.
Research findings show that awareness of vitiligo is low in the country, with lots of negative attitudes towards individuals with the condition.
A study published in Sage journals titled, “The experience of living with vitiligo in Nigeria: A participatory interpretative phenomenological analysis,” by Nick Taylor, Ogo Maduesesi, et al, revealed that persons living with vitiligo suffered stigmatisation, discrimination and distress associated with their appearance.
To raise awareness, fight social stigma, and celebrate the lives and strength of persons living with vitiligo, World Vitiligo Day is observed globally on June 25 every year.
The theme for World Vitiligo Day 2026 is “From Stigma to Strength.”
While there is no available data on the burden of the condition among Nigerians, online data indicates that the condition affects about two to six per cent of the population.
Providing expert insight on the matter, a specialist in Endocrinology and Metabolic Syndrome and Disorders at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof Chituru Orluwene, said vitiligo is a multifactorial illness with genetic, hormonal, and immunological causes.
The professor of Chemical Pathology explained that autoimmune disorders are the most strongly implicated cause of vitiligo, describing how the destruction of certain immune cells leads to loss of skin pigmentation.
He said, “Autoimmune disease is even the number one implicated in vitiligo. Research has found that it is a disorder in the CD8 cell and the T cell. It is the destruction of the CD8 cells and T cells that now causes the destruction of the melanocyte. A melanocyte is the cell that produces melanin. Melanin is what causes skin pigmentation. Now, if that melanin is destroyed, then the person cannot have pigmentation of the skin, and you begin to have patches of the skin that are white, and areas that are black. And that is vitiligo.”
Orluwene further noted that beyond the visible skin changes, vitiligo may coexist with hormonal and autoimmune conditions.
The professor identified adrenal gland disorders such as Addison’s disease and thyroid conditions, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, as illnesses commonly associated with vitiligo.
“Patients who have Addison’s disease, which is a disorder of the adrenal gland, can develop vitiligo. The other one is thyroid. People who have a thyroid disease, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, thyroid toxicosis, and patients with vitiligo are also associated with these conditions,” he said.
Orluwene decried the level of stigmatisation people living with the condition faced in the country, asserting that vitiligo is not contagious and the affected individuals are not cursed, spiritually afflicted, have a witchcraft spirit or the body of a snake.
He stressed that vitiligo has no spiritual connotation, noting that it often has a genetic basis, as many patients have a family history of the condition.
He said, “The problem we have in Nigeria is that of stigmatisation. People with vitiligo, even today, people are still thinking either they are accursed, or the witchcraft spirit has affected them to the extent that their body is looking like the body of a snake. We have not yet come out of that stigmatisation.”
“Let people know that this has nothing to do with what you did or what you did not do. In fact, the majority of those who have vitiligo have a family history of another person in the family who has had it before. So sometimes it can run in the family.
“Running away from such people or making them feel less human even kills faster than the disease itself. If we play down on stigmatisation, the tendency is that we will encourage those with the disease to live on. We will strengthen them morally, psychologically, emotionally, and physically.”
The don also expressed concern over the limited treatment options available locally, noting that effective creams are mostly available abroad and are expensive.
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital said, “Most of the treatment modalities they use are creams. But those creams are not available here. They are mostly abroad and very expensive.”
Orluwene clarified that while vitiligo is not currently reversible, it can be managed, and identified excessive sun exposure and hormonal changes, particularly during menstruation, as common triggers.
The specialist clarified that while vitiligo is not currently reversible, it can be managed, and identified excessive sun exposure and hormonal changes, particularly during menstruation, as common triggers.
The endocrinology and metabolic medicine specialist said, “Vitiligo is not reversible. I can tell you, 95 per cent, it’s not reversible. But it can be managed. The triggers again are environmental issues, so much exposure to the sun, and other hormonal imbalances, especially in women during their menstrual period. Those hormonal changes that occur in the menstrual period can also trigger vitiligo.”
Speaking on this year’s World Vitiligo Day theme, “From Stigma to Strength,” Orluwene said ending stigmatisation through public education remained central to improving the lives of persons living with the condition.
The professor warned that the social rejection faced by patients, including abandonment by friends and rejection by prospective partners’ families, could be more damaging than the disease itself.
He said, “The strength of vitiligo management in Nigeria lies in our ability to end stigmatisation, and that will depend on a lot of education of the population. It is not transmissible. It is not transmissible by sex. It is not transmissible by contact. It is not transmissible by casual association.”
Commenting on the matter, a Professor of Dermatology and President of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists, Dasetima Altraide, also linked vitiligo to genetic and autoimmune disorders.
He explained that while the exact cause remains unknown, one of the theories identifies it as an autoimmune condition.
“It’s a skin condition. Its cause is unknown, but there are theories as to the cause. One of which is that it’s an autoimmune condition. One theory states that it’s an autoimmune condition,” the consultant dermatologist said.
The dermatologist noted that although treatment remains difficult, innovations are improving treatment outcomes for some patients.
Altraide further stated that there were still cases of delayed diagnosis due to ignorance, religion, superstition, and discrimination.
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