Vitiligo Bond Inc. (VBI) seeks to empower vitiligans worldwide through access to a private support group, raise public awareness and empathy about the skin disorder, and increase funding for research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of vitiligo.
Vitiligo is a non-contagious autoimmune skin condition that causes the skin to lose pigment, resulting in white patches. It affects both males and females of all races and the gene is dormant in the body. Vitiligo also leads to the whitening of hair in affected areas. Vitiligo is often triggered by physical or emotional stress, sun exposure, or certain antibiotics, exposure to rubber products and other products that can cause an allergic reaction (#environmentalvitiligo). Although it can be inherited, the exact cause remains unclear. There is a growing support community, both online and offline, to help individuals cope with the emotional challenges that come with the condition.
