Surprising Facts About Melanoma

While living with vitiligo — a common skin condition that causes pale patches of skin — may be frustrating, it may also have the benefit of a significantly reduced risk of melanoma. A team of researchers found that the risk of melanoma was three times lower in vitiligo patients. Even vitiligo patients who had undergone ultraviolet light treatment did not have an increased risk. Vitiligo and melanoma are associated with the skin in almost opposite manners: Vitiligo kills melanocytes, while melanoma tumors form when melanocytes with damaged DNA multiply.