While discussing her psoriasis journey on Monday’s episode of the “She MD” podcast, Kardashian explained that vitiligo, which causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color, can be hereditary.
“It came from my mom, went to me … and I passed it on in a different form to my son, who has vitiligo very mildly,” said Kardashian, who did not name which son has it.
Kardashian and ex-husband Kanye West, 47, have two sons and two daughters.
“The Kardashians” star clarified that her son’s condition is now “under control.”
Kardashian added: “I didn’t know anything about it, but having to learn about it and figuring out where it came from and that it’s hereditary and just learning more and being able to share that [has been a blessing].”
Here’s a look at what causes vitiligo and how it’s treated.
According to the Mayo Clinic, vitiligo, (pronounced vit-ih-LIE-go), is a disease that causes patches of skin to lose color.
Typically, melanin determines skin and hair color; in vitiligo, the skin cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning.
The result is discolored areas that tend to get larger over time. Vitiligo can affect the skin on any part of the body, including the hair and the inside of the mouth.
Vitiligo affects about 1% of the world’s population and usually appears before age 30.
The condition is found in people of all skin types but may be more distinguishable in those with brown or black skin.
Signs of vitiligo include:
- Patchy loss of skin color. It often initially appears on the skin of the hands, face and areas around body openings and genitals.
- Premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
- Loss of color in the mucous membranes that line the inside of the mouth and nose
