Kim Kardashian, the 43-year-old reality TV star and entrepreneur, has opened up about a personal family health issue.
On a recent episode of the She MD podcast, Kardashian disclosed that one of her sons has vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment.
Kardashian, who shares four children—North, 11, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5—with ex-husband Kanye West, explained the hereditary nature of the condition.
“It came from my mom, went to me, and I passed it on in a different form to my son, who has vitiligo very mildly,” she said.
Vitiligo occurs when melanocytes, the skin cells responsible for pigment, are attacked and destroyed, resulting in milky-white patches on the skin.
Kardashian, who suffers from psoriasis, did not specify which of her sons has the disorder but assured that it is “under control.”
The star emphasized the importance of education and awareness about the condition.
“I didn’t know anything about it, but having to learn about it and figuring out where it came from and that it’s hereditary and just learning more and being able to share that [has been a blessing],” she told podcast hosts Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi and influencer Mary Alice Haney.
Kardashian’s revelation brings attention to vitiligo, a condition that affects millions worldwide, including her friend and model Winnie Harlow.
By sharing her family’s experience, Kardashian hopes to shed light on the disorder and provide support to others facing similar challenges.
Related: Kanye West, Kim Kardashian angrily argue during their son’s basketball game