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White hair

MedGen UID:
66797
Concept ID:
C0239804
Finding; Finding
SNOMED CT: White hair (297993006)
 
HPO: HP:0011364

Definition

Hypopigmented hair that appears white. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Familial methionine malabsorption
MedGen UID:
78693
Concept ID:
C0268622
Disease or Syndrome
Ermine phenotype
MedGen UID:
346466
Concept ID:
C1856899
Disease or Syndrome
A rare deafness characterized by the association of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and white hair with scattered black tufts, as well as skin areas of hyper- and hypopigmentation. Additional reported features include global developmental delay and moderate intellectual disability, growth retardation, microcephaly, hypotonia, mild dysmorphic facial features (deeply set eyes, broad nasal bridge, slight bowing of the upper lip), retinal depigmentation, anomalies of the fingers and toes, and white matter abnormalities on brain imaging.
Tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism
MedGen UID:
1643910
Concept ID:
C4551504
Disease or Syndrome
Researchers have identified multiple types of oculocutaneous albinism, which are distinguished by their specific skin, hair, and eye color changes, and by their genetic cause. Oculocutaneous albinism type 1 is characterized by white hair, very pale skin, and light-colored irises. Type 2 is typically less severe than type 1; the skin is usually pale and hair may be light yellow, blond, or light brown. Type 3 causes reddish-brown skin, ginger or red hair, and hazel or brown irises. Type 3 is often associated with milder vision abnormalities than the other forms of oculocutaneous albinism. Type 4 has signs and symptoms similar to those seen in people with type 2.\n\nOculocutaneous albinism also reduces pigmentation of the colored part of the eye (the iris) and the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (the retina). People with this condition usually have vision problems such as reduced sharpness; rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus); eyes that do not point in the same direction (strabismus); and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).\n\nOculocutaneous albinism is a group of conditions that affect the color of (pigmentation) of the skin, hair, and eyes. Affected individuals typically have very fair skin and white or light-colored hair. Long-term sun exposure greatly increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancers, including an aggressive form of skin cancer called melanoma, in people with this condition. \n\nThere are several additional, rare types of oculocutaneous albinism.
Waardenburg syndrome, IIa 2F
MedGen UID:
1809587
Concept ID:
C5677013
Disease or Syndrome
Waardenburg syndrome type 2F (WS2F) is characterized by congenital or neonatal-onset sensorineural hearing loss and altered pigmentation of the iris, hair, and skin. Variable expressivity has been reported, even among patients with the same mutation (Ogawa et al., 2017; Vona et al., 2022). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of WS2, as well as a brief description of other clinical variants of Waardenburg syndrome (WS1, 193500; WS3, 148820; and WS4, 277580), see WS2A (193510).

Professional guidelines

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Godar DE
Curr Probl Dermatol 2021;55:339-353. Epub 2021 Oct 25 doi: 10.1159/000517643. PMID: 34698023
Cervantes J, Fertig RM, Maddy A, Tosti A
Am J Clin Dermatol 2017 Dec;18(6):789-796. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0297-6. PMID: 28555441
Mohammed GF
Aesthet Surg J 2014 Feb;34(2):298-305. Epub 2014 Jan 9 doi: 10.1177/1090820X13518801. PMID: 24408514
Tan C, Zhu WY
J Cutan Med Surg 2010 Jul-Aug;14(4):193-4. doi: 10.2310/7750.2010.09062. PMID: 20642991
Seckin D, Yildiz A
Australas J Dermatol 2009 Aug;50(3):214-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00542.x. PMID: 19659987

Diagnosis

Cervantes J, Fertig RM, Maddy A, Tosti A
Am J Clin Dermatol 2017 Dec;18(6):789-796. doi: 10.1007/s40257-017-0297-6. PMID: 28555441
Tripathy K, Sharma YR
BMJ 2016 Jan 13;352:i24. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i24. PMID: 26762602
Wong J
Pediatr Rev 2012 Mar;33(3):e18-21. doi: 10.1542/pir.33-3-e18. PMID: 22383518
Kakourou T
World J Pediatr 2009 Nov;5(4):265-8. Epub 2009 Nov 13 doi: 10.1007/s12519-009-0050-1. PMID: 19911140
Seckin D, Yildiz A
Australas J Dermatol 2009 Aug;50(3):214-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00542.x. PMID: 19659987

Therapy

Godar DE
Curr Probl Dermatol 2021;55:339-353. Epub 2021 Oct 25 doi: 10.1159/000517643. PMID: 34698023
Mohammed GF
Aesthet Surg J 2014 Feb;34(2):298-305. Epub 2014 Jan 9 doi: 10.1177/1090820X13518801. PMID: 24408514
Komagamine T, Suzuki K, Hirata K
Mov Disord 2013 Oct;28(12):1643. doi: 10.1002/mds.25696. PMID: 24166898
Seckin D, Yildiz A
Australas J Dermatol 2009 Aug;50(3):214-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00542.x. PMID: 19659987
Van Neste D, Tobin DJ
Micron 2004;35(3):193-200. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2003.11.006. PMID: 15036274

Prognosis

Sethi S, Chauhan P, Jindal R, Bisht YS
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2021 Jan-Feb;88(1):40-46. doi: 10.25259/IJDVL_11_2020. PMID: 34379967
Shima N, Nitta A, Kamata T, Sasaki K, Matsuta S, Ishikawa A, Asai R, Wada M, Kakehashi H, Nakano S, Kamata H, Sato T, Tsuchihashi H, Miki A, Katagi M
Forensic Sci Int 2019 Aug;301:67-75. Epub 2019 May 11 doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.05.013. PMID: 31129374
Sleiman R, Kurban M, Succaria F, Abbas O
J Am Acad Dermatol 2013 Oct;69(4):625-33. Epub 2013 Jul 12 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.05.022. PMID: 23850259
Kakourou T
World J Pediatr 2009 Nov;5(4):265-8. Epub 2009 Nov 13 doi: 10.1007/s12519-009-0050-1. PMID: 19911140
Seckin D, Yildiz A
Australas J Dermatol 2009 Aug;50(3):214-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2009.00542.x. PMID: 19659987

Clinical prediction guides

Kasmi R, Hagerty J, Young R, Lama N, Nepal J, Miinch J, Stoecker W, Stanley RJ
Skin Res Technol 2023 Apr;29(4):e13203. doi: 10.1111/srt.13203. PMID: 37113095Free PMC Article
Oliver MA, Marti M, Coderch L, Carrer V, Kreuzer M, Barba C
Skin Res Technol 2019 Jul;25(4):517-525. Epub 2019 Feb 13 doi: 10.1111/srt.12681. PMID: 30758871
Mohammed GF
Aesthet Surg J 2014 Feb;34(2):298-305. Epub 2014 Jan 9 doi: 10.1177/1090820X13518801. PMID: 24408514
Sadick NS, Laughlin SA
J Cosmet Laser Ther 2004 May;6(1):27-31. doi: 10.1080/14764170410029022. PMID: 15370410
Van Neste D, Tobin DJ
Micron 2004;35(3):193-200. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2003.11.006. PMID: 15036274

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