What condition is characterized by loss of pigmentation due to absent epidermal melanocytes?

Vitiligo is a condition characterized by the loss of pigmentation in the skin due to the absence of epidermal melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, which gives skin its color. In vitiligo, patches of skin lose their pigment, resulting in lighter areas that can vary in size and may appear on any part of the body.

The exact cause of vitiligo is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve an autoimmune process where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes. This loss of melanocytes leads to the characteristic depigmentation seen in vitiligo.

In contrast, pityriasis alba is a common skin condition that manifests as lighter patches on the skin, but it is actually related to mild dermatitis and is not due to a complete absence of melanocytes. Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that leads to changes in skin pigmentation, but it does not involve loss of melanocytes; instead, it affects the skin's ability to maintain pigment. Melasma is a condition that results in dark, discolored patches on the skin, often related to hormonal changes, and again does not involve an absence of melanocytes.

Hence, the defining feature of vitiligo as a condition marked by the