Eye color may predict vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that causes skin pigment loss, according to a new study.
This study was conducted on nearly 3,000 Americans of European descent, noting that people with blue eyes are less likely to have Vitiligo.
Eye color can predict vitiligo the study
The researchers also identified 13 new genes that can lead people to vitiligo, which often manifests itself as patchy patches of white skin and hair.
About 27% of people with Vitiligo had blue / gray colored lesions, compared to the same sample without this skin condition.
Meanwhile, 43% of people with vitiligo had brown eyes compared to 27% of the same healthy sample.
Finally, about 30% of the vitiligo patients had green or hazel eyes.
The researchers found that their findings could help how eye color can predict melanoma risk. According to studies, people with brown eyes are less likely to experience melanoma.
Vitiligo and melanoma
The genetic structure of vitiligo and melanoma appear to be opposite. Some of the same genetic mutations that increase the incidence of having vitiligo make melanoma less likely and vice versa.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, in which a person’s immune system attacks normal pigmented cells.
Studies have hypothesized that vitiligo represents a strong immune response aimed at destroying the first cancerous cells of melanoma.
Because people with vitiligo are at increased risk for other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes, the study authors concluded that their findings could help scientists learn more about the genetic basis of these as well. illnesses.
