vitiligo epidemiology forecast

Key Highlights

• Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin condition characterized by a specific melanocyte depletion, resulting in melanin attenuation inside the skin’s damaged regions. A distinguishing feature is a completely amelanotic, non-scay, chalky-white macule with clear borders.
• The understanding of the etiology of vitiligo has advanced significantly in recent years. It is now categorically recognized as an autoimmune disorder associated with metabolism and oxidative stress, including cellular detaching diseases, as well as hereditary and environmental factors.
• In 2024, the 7MM reported approximately 12 million total prevalent cases of vitiligo, with the United States alone accounting for nearly 5 million—representing more than 40% of the overall burden. This highlights the substantial share of vitiligo cases concentrated within the US population.
• In 2024, the age group of 30–39 years accounted for approximately 35% of the prevalent cases of Vitiligo, which were highest in the 7MM.
• Gender-specific analysis in the 7MM revealed a higher prevalence among females, who accounted for approximately 55% of the total cases in 2024, compared to 45% among males. This suggests a moderate gender imbalance favoring a female predominance in vitiligo diagnoses.
• Within the US, non-segmental vitiligo emerged as the dominant subtype in 2024, contributing to approximately 75% of all diagnosed cases. This reinforces its role as the most common clinical presentation associated with the condition.
• To conclude, vitiligo showed a considerable burden across the 7MM, with the highest prevalence in the US and a clear dominance of the non-segmental subtype. The disease disproportionately affected females and peaked among individuals in their 30s, emphasizing the need for targeted awareness and therapeutic strategies for mid-life adults, particularly women.

DelveInsight’s  “Vitiligo– Epidemiology Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of Vitiligo historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

The table given below further depicts the key segments provided in the report:

Vitiligo: Disease Understanding

Vitiligo Overview

Vitiligo, also known as leucoderma, is a chronic depigmenting skin disorder that causes the formation of discolored patches of skin. Also, hair on these skin regions can lose pigment and appear white. This condition is characterized by the selective loss of melanocytes—cells responsible for imparting color to skin, leading to pigment dilution in the affected areas of the skin. The affected skin then turns into typical nonscaly, chalky-white macules. It is the most common depigmenting skin disorder. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), vitiligo can be classified into three major types

• Segmental Vitiligo (SV)
• Nonsegmental Vitiligo (NSV)
• Mixed vitiligo

Vitiligo is caused by a lack of melanin in the skin, which is caused by the destruction of the patient’s melanocytes, causing depigmentation. What exactly triggers this process is unknown, but it is triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental conditions, which can appear at any age. Products containing phenol—like carbolic acid or phenic acid—are also possible vitiligo triggers.

The average age of onset of vitiligo is in the mid-twenties, but it can appear at any age. Once affected, the size and number of patches vary from one person to another. The condition progresses over time, with larger areas of the skin losing pigment; however, the patches can remain stable or even improve in some affected individuals

Vitiligo Diagnosis

Vitiligo is typically diagnosed through physical examination without the need for confirmatory lab tests. When further evaluation is needed, doctors may use skin biopsy, blood tests, or noninvasive tools like confocal microscopy to assess melanocyte loss. Wood’s lamp examination helps distinguish depigmented vitiligo from hypopigmented skin. Screening for associated disorders remains controversial. Differential diagnosis is essential to rule out other inherited or systemic causes of depigmentation. Histopathology is rarely required.

Vitiligo diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on a detailed medical history and physical examination to assess the pattern and extent of skin depigmentation. Diagnostic tools such as Wood’s lamp and standardized scoring systems may be used to evaluate disease severity. In select cases, a skin biopsy or blood test may be conducted to rule out other conditions or assess autoimmune involvement.

Vitiligo Epidemiology

The Vitiligo epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by Total Prevalent Cases of Vitiligo, Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Vitiligo Gender-specific cases of Vitiligo, Type-specific cases of Vitiligo, Age-specific cases of Vitiligo, in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034.

• In the 7MM, non-segmental vitiligo accounted for the majority of cases in 2024, with an estimated 9 million individuals affected, compared to approximately 3 million segmental vitiligo cases—emphasizing the dominance of non-segmental subtype in clinical presentation.
• In 2024, gender-specific analysis of vitiligo in the United States revealed that females accounted for approximately 2.7 million diagnosed cases, outpacing males with around 2.3 million cases. This notable female predominance reflects gender-related trends in autoimmune disease susceptibility within the United States population.
• The burden of vitiligo peaks in mid-life, with the 30–39 age group representing approximately 35% of cases, followed by 40–49 years (20%). The least affected are individuals aged 50–59, accounting for only about 12% of the total.
• Among the EU4 and the UK, Italy led the region in vitiligo prevalence in 2024 with approximately 1.2 million diagnosed cases, followed by the UK and Germany.
• In 2024, Japan reported around 400 thousand diagnosed prevalent cases of vitiligo, highlighting a relatively smaller disease burden.

KOL Views

To gaze into the epidemiology insights of the real world, we take KOLs and SMEs’ opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research on disease prevalence.

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 20+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 10+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA, US; University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Germany; Institut Curi, France; Università Politecnica delle Marche Home, Italy; Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Spain; Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals Trust, UK University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan and others were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current disease prevalence, gender involved with the disease, diagnosis rate, and diagnostic criteria.

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of an executive summary, and a descriptive overview of Vitiligo explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis.
• Comprehensive insight into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, and disease progression have been provided.
• A detailed review of current challenges in establishing diagnosis and diagnosis rate is provided.

Vitiligo Report Insights

• Patient Population
• Country-wise Epidemiology Distribution

Vitiligo Report Key Strengths

• Ten-year Forecast
• The 7MM Coverage
• Vitiligo Epidemiology Segmentation

Vitiligo Report Assessment

• Epidemiology Segmentation
• Current Diagnostic Practices

FAQs

Epidemiology Insights

• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of Vitiligo? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to Vitiligo?
• What is the historical and forecasted Vitiligo patient pool in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan?
• What is the diagnostic pattern of Vitiligo?
• Which clinical factors will affect Vitiligo?
• Which factors will affect the increase in the diagnosis of Vitiligo?

Reasons to buy

• Insights on disease burden, details regarding diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand the change in Vitiligo cases in varying geographies over the coming years.
• A detailed overview of total prevalent cases of vitiligo, total diagnosed prevalent cases of vitiligo, gender-specific cases of vitiligo, type-specific cases of vitiligo, and age-specific cases of vitiligo,is included.
• Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.