The most prominent and common feature of piebaldism is a white forelock directly above the forehead, often with a triangular shape, in an area that is melanocyte-free. Named for the ... Our patient was diagnosed with piebaldism, which is characterized by congenital hypomelanosis of the skin (leukoderma) and hair (poliosis).

Understanding the Context

The condition manifests typically as a white forelock with ... Waardenburg syndrome is a group of rare genetic conditions characterised by at least some degree of congenital hearing loss and pigmentation deficiencies, which can include bright blue eyes (or one blue eye and one brown eye), a white forelock or patches of light skin. Common features include a white patch of hair on the forehead (white forelock), differences in eye color (heterochromia), patchy light-colored skin (leukoderma), and, in some types, a wide nasal bridge due to lateral (outward) displacement of the inner corners of the eyelids (dystopia canthorum). White forelock with malformations is caused by genetic mutations, also known as pathogenic variants.

Key Insights

Genetic mutations can be hereditary, when parents pass them down to their children, or they may occur randomly when cells are dividing. Learn all about piebaldism, a condition that is often marked by a white patch of hair known as a white forelock. We look at additional symptoms and causes. Poliosis circumscripta, commonly referred to as a "white forelock ", is a condition characterized by localized patches of white hair due to a reduction or absence of melanin in hair follicles. Approximately 90 percent of affected individuals have a white section of hair near their front hairline (a white forelock).

Final Thoughts

The eyelashes, the eyebrows, and the skin under the forelock may also be unpigmented. Although traditionally known as β€œwhite forelock,” poliosis circumscripta, defined as a localized patch of white hair in a group of hair follicles, can involve any hairy area on the body including the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.