What autoimmune disorder leads to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis?

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that specifically targets melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, which gives skin its color. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys these melanocytes, leading to the development of white patches on the skin where pigment is lost. The destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis results in the characteristic depigmented areas that define vitiligo.

In contrast, psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by the rapid growth of skin cells leading to scaly patches, but it does not primarily involve the destruction of melanocytes. Albinism is a genetic condition that results in a lack of melanin production due to mutations in genes responsible for melanin synthesis, rather than an autoimmune response. Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, is another autoimmune disorder that affects multiple systems in the body and may cause skin rashes, but it does not specifically target melanocytes for destruction. Thus, vitiligo is correctly identified as the autoimmune disorder that leads to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis.