Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Have Poliosis. Few White Hair Appeared. Any Treatment?
Question: Never met with a doctor directly but after consulting over the phone, seeing pictures and reading upon it. I am most certain I have poliosis. There are approximately 6-8 white hair spots that have appeared over the past month...it is very obvious and quite embarassing. Any treatments? Please help.
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
There could be many causes for poliosis
1) genetic- may run in family and associated with piebaldism, Vogt koyanagi Harada syndrome, tuberous sclerosis etc
2) associated with underlying nevi like melanocytic or halo nevi
3) associated with vitiligo
4) sometimes alopecia areata presents as white patchy hair growth
5) drug induced like chloroquine, acitretin, cyclosporine etc
6) thyroid disorders vitamin B12 def or selenium deficiency
6) sometimes develops unilaterally at the site of herpes zoster
7) sometimes melanocytes abruptly stop functioning without any known cause.
If your concern is due to any nutritional disorder, thyroid deficiency, vitiligo, halo nevi, alopecia areata then poliosis might be treatable by treating the underlying cause. In other conditions it is difficult to treat it through medicines.
The underlying cause or the inciting factor for your concern can only be ruled out after a thorough clinical history and clinical examination. For the same, a consultation with dermatologist near by is mandatory.
If poliosis is just an isolated finding without any associated skin disorder, nutritional deficiency etc then the best treatment would be to color your white hair.
Hope that answers your query. Should there be further doubts, feel free to write back. Take care.
Thanks for writing to us.
There could be many causes for poliosis
1) genetic- may run in family and associated with piebaldism, Vogt koyanagi Harada syndrome, tuberous sclerosis etc
2) associated with underlying nevi like melanocytic or halo nevi
3) associated with vitiligo
4) sometimes alopecia areata presents as white patchy hair growth
5) drug induced like chloroquine, acitretin, cyclosporine etc
6) thyroid disorders vitamin B12 def or selenium deficiency
6) sometimes develops unilaterally at the site of herpes zoster
7) sometimes melanocytes abruptly stop functioning without any known cause.
If your concern is due to any nutritional disorder, thyroid deficiency, vitiligo, halo nevi, alopecia areata then poliosis might be treatable by treating the underlying cause. In other conditions it is difficult to treat it through medicines.
The underlying cause or the inciting factor for your concern can only be ruled out after a thorough clinical history and clinical examination. For the same, a consultation with dermatologist near by is mandatory.
If poliosis is just an isolated finding without any associated skin disorder, nutritional deficiency etc then the best treatment would be to color your white hair.
Hope that answers your query. Should there be further doubts, feel free to write back. Take care.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
