These abnormal antibodies are called autoantibodies.
Melanin also acts as a sunscreen and protects the skin from ultraviolet light.
Exposure to UVA can cause the skin to tan. Ultraviolet light is also used in a treatment called phototherapy for certain skin conditions, including vitiligo. The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo may turn white. The cause of vitiligo is not known, but doctors and researchers have several different theories. One theory is that people develop antibodies that destroy the melanocytes in their own bodies.