Is vitiligo a form of leprosy? Please don't answer just yes or no. Please provide a reference. Thank you.

Answer 1

No

"Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin, the mucous membranes (tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose and genital and rectal areas), and the retina (inner layer of the eyeball) are destroyed. As a result, white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo usually turns white."

Cause is still unknown

"Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease which attacks the skin, peripheral nerves and mucous membranes (eyes, respiratory tract). Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease because the bacillus which causes it was discovered by G.A. Hansen in 1873. It is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics."

"Leprosy is characterized by multiple lesions accompanied by sensory loss in the affected areas. Usually, sensory loss begins in the extremities (toes, fingertips). In many advanced cases, gangrene sets in, causing parts of the body to "die" (necrosis) and become deformed."

Answer 2

Vitiligo (IPA /ˌvɪtəˈlaɪgo/) or leukoderma is a skin disease that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular white patches of skin. The precise etiology of the disease is complex and not fully understood. There is some evidence suggesting it is caused by a combination of auto-immune, genetic and environmental factors. The population incidence in the United States is between 1% and 2%. The incidence in other countries such as India is thought to be higher.
(Wikipedia)
Vitiligo is not harmful, medicaly speaking, but can be very embarassing, and there is a stigma attached to it in some countries.
Leprosy is a contagious (not very) bacterial disease with a long incubation period. It causes numbness of the affected areas (usually the extremities first). When a body part is numb for a long time, the brain tends to forget it is there. This opens the way for bacterial infection every time there is a tear in the skin. The immune system forgets the inflammation is there, and the wound festers, eventually causing a huge ulcer and then necrosis (death of skin, muscle, and bone). Leprosy is fatal, but it's also curable with antibiotics.