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Leucism vs. Vitiligo — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
Leucism is a generalized loss of pigmentation, Vitiligo is patchy loss due to destroyed pigment cells.
Leucism vs. Vitiligo — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Leucism and Vitiligo

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Key Differences

Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation affecting various types of animals. Unlike albinism, leucistic animals do not lack melanin entirely, but have it reduced in some parts of their bodies. Conversely, Vitiligo is a specific human skin condition where melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, are destroyed. This leads to white patches on different parts of the body.
In leucism, the partial loss of pigmentation can result in white, pale, or patchy coloration of skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but it does not affect the animal's eye color. Vitiligo, however, only affects the skin and has no impact on hair or eye color. It can start at any age and is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes.
The cause of leucism is attributed to genetic mutations affecting pigment cell differentiation and proliferation. Animals with leucism are often at a higher risk of predation due to their lack of camouflage. Vitiligo's cause is not fully understood but is thought to involve genetic factors, oxidative stress, and an autoimmune response that leads to the progressive loss of skin pigmentation, often having significant psychosocial impacts.
Unlike leucism, which is present from birth, Vitiligo can develop later in life and is progressive. The unpigmented patches in Vitiligo may increase in size and number over time. Leucism is stable and does not change once the animal has reached maturity.
It's important to note that leucism is not a health condition and generally does not affect the life span or well-being of an animal. On the other hand, Vitiligo, while not typically directly impacting physical health, can have emotional and psychological effects due to societal perceptions of beauty and normalcy.
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Comparison Chart

Affected Species

Animals
Humans

Type of Pigment Loss

Partial/Total, but generalized
Patchy and localized

Eye Color Impact

No change
No change

Age of Onset

At birth
Can develop at any age

Progression

Non-progressive
Can be progressive

Cause

Genetic mutations
Autoimmune, possibly with genetic and environmental factors

Compare with Definitions

Leucism

Leucism is the presence of white or pale patches on an animal's skin or coat.
A deer with leucism was spotted in the forest, its coat dotted with white patches amidst the brown.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a medical condition causing depigmentation in patches of skin.
He was diagnosed with vitiligo after noticing irregular white patches on his hands.

Leucism

Leucism is when an animal has an overall pale coloration due to reduced melanin.
The leucistic lion stood out from its pride with its faintly colored mane.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disorder where skin pigment cells are destroyed.
Vitiligo gradually changed her appearance, with contrasting patches becoming more prominent.

Leucism

Leucism can manifest as a complete or partial lack of color in all integuments.
A leucistic raven was nearly mistaken for an albino, but its dark eyes gave away its true condition.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is characterized by the loss of skin color in blotches.
The model with vitiligo became an inspiration for embracing unique beauty.

Leucism

Leucism is a condition marked by partial loss of pigmentation in animals.
The white peacock is an example of leucism, as it displays white feathers but retains normal-colored eyes.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo involves patchy depigmentation, often with symmetrical distribution.
She applied sunscreen diligently to protect her vitiligo-affected skin from the sun.

Leucism

Leucism is a genetic condition that results in decreased pigmentation.
Researchers observed a leucistic seal pup, its fur a soft gray compared to its darker companions.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. The patches of skin affected become white and usually have sharp margins.

Leucism

Leucism () is a wide variety of conditions that result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes. It is occasionally spelled leukism.

Vitiligo

Partial or total loss of skin pigmentation, often occurring in patches.

Leucism

A partial loss of pigmentation in a human or other animal, resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, fur, or feathers but not the eyes.

Vitiligo

(dermatology) The patchy loss of skin pigmentation.

Leucism

An animal condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes (caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin).

Vitiligo

A rare skin disease consisting in the development of smooth, milk-white spots upon various parts of the body.

Vitiligo

An acquired skin disease characterized by patches of unpigmented skin (often surrounded by a heavily pigmented border)

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition leading to clear, unpigmented skin areas.
His vitiligo started as small patches but eventually spread to larger areas over the years.

Vitiligo

A condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause.

Vitiligo

(obsolete) Alphos, a form of leprosy.

Common Curiosities

What causes leucism in animals?

Leucism is caused by a genetic mutation that results in reduced pigmentation.

Can leucism be cured or reversed?

Leucism is a genetic condition and cannot be cured or reversed.

Can leucism affect an animal's vision?

No, leucism does not typically affect the eyes, so vision is not impaired.

Is leucism common in domestic animals?

It can occur but is not considered common and varies by species.

Does vitiligo affect a person's lifespan?

Vitiligo does not affect lifespan but can impact quality of life due to psychosocial factors.

Do leucistic animals face any health issues?

No, leucistic animals generally do not face health issues related to their condition.

What triggers vitiligo in humans?

Vitiligo can be triggered by autoimmune responses, genetic factors, and oxidative stress.

Are there any support groups for individuals with vitiligo?

Yes, there are various support groups and organizations for those with vitiligo.

Can vitiligo be treated?

Treatments are available to manage vitiligo, but there is no known cure.

Does vitiligo only affect people with darker skin?

No, vitiligo can affect individuals of any skin color.

Can children inherit vitiligo from their parents?

There is a genetic component to vitiligo, so it can run in families, but it's not directly inherited.

Is vitiligo contagious?

No, vitiligo is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.

Can lifestyle changes impact vitiligo?

While not a cure, certain lifestyle changes can help manage the condition.

Is it possible to predict the spread of vitiligo?

The progression of vitiligo is unpredictable and varies greatly among individuals.

Is sun exposure safe for individuals with vitiligo?

People with vitiligo should protect their skin from the sun, as depigmented areas are more prone to sunburn.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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