What inherited skin disorder produces smooth, irregularly-shaped white patches due to loss of pigment-producing cells?

The condition that produces smooth, irregularly-shaped white patches due to the loss of pigment-producing cells is vitiligo. This disorder is characterized by the gradual loss of melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, which gives skin its color. As these cells decrease, the affected areas lose their pigment and appear as white patches on the skin.

Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the melanocytes. It can occur in any skin type but is often more noticeable in individuals with darker skin. The presentation of the patches can vary in size and may spread over time.

While leukoderma can also refer to depigmented areas of the skin, it is more of a general term and not specific to a particular inherited disorder like vitiligo. Albinism is a genetic condition characterized by a complete absence of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes, which differs from vitiligo's patchy nature. Chloasma, commonly known as the "mask of pregnancy," is related to hormonal changes and sun exposure but does not involve the loss of pigment-producing cells like in vitiligo. Therefore, vitiligo is the most accurate choice in this context, highlighting