Poliosis L67.1

Congenital or acquired, localized white discoloration of the hairs of the head (white hair curl), which can occur at different locations of the capillitium. The term "poliosis" does not denote an independent clinical picture, but only a symptom.

• Genetic causes:
  • Piebaldism
  • Klein-Waardenburg syndrome (I-IV)
  • Uveomeningoencephalic syndrome
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Peripheral neurofibromatosis
  • Isolated poliosis (form fruste of Piebaldism?)
  • Isolated occipital poliosis (X-linked recessive)
  • Poliosis with osteopathia striata (autosomal or X-linked dominant)
  • Poliosis with multiple malformations (autosomal or X-linked recessive)
• Inflammatory or autoimmunologic causes:
  • Vitiligo
  • Halo-nevus
  • post-traumatic
  • postinflammatory (after lupus erythematosus chronicus discoides)
  • Alopecia areata (first hair growth)
  • Halo-nevus
  • Zoster
  • X-ray irradiation
  • Acidental chemical depigmentation (e.g. after application of guanonitrofurazine - for treatment of conjunctivitis and blepharitis)

Uni- or multilocular circumscribed focal white coloration of hair.

The white discoloration of the body hair is called leukotrichia, a phenomenon that is mainly found in vitiligo.

1. Aisenbrey S et al (2003) Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma: an 11-year follow-up. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241: 996-999
2. Elston DM et al (2000) Migratory poliosis: A forme fruste of alopecia areata? J Am Acad Dermatol 42: 1076-1077
3. Sanchez-Martin M et al (2003) Deletion of the SLUG (SNAI2) gene results in human piebaldism. At J Med Genet 122A: 125-132
4. Walker S et al (1999) Poliosis circumscripta associated with scalp naevi: a report of four cases. Br J Dermatol 140: 1182-1184
5. Yosipovitch G et al (1999) Poliosis associated with a giant congenital nevus. Arch Dermatol 135: 859-866