Search Ad How to Prevent Worsening of Vitiligo By Laura Dorwart Updated on September 07, 2023 Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD About 70 million people worldwide (1% of the population) are affected by vitiligo.1 Although this condition can’t be prevented and has no known cure, there are ways to manage symptoms and help prevent it from worsening. The most common type of vitiligo is nonsegmental vitiligo, also called generalized vitiligo. Generalized vitiligo causes symmetrical white patches on both sides of the body. They often get larger over time as depigmentation progresses. Segmental vitiligo develops on one side of the face or body and usually stops progressing after one to two years. This article discusses how to prevent your color loss from getting worse, as well as vitiligo treatment options. It’s not yet clear what causes vitiligo, but many researchers believe it is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition that causes your immune system to...