I was looking at my 5 month old son today and noticed a single small patch of white skin on the folds of his neck. It's essentially skin with no pigmentation. We noticed it when he was 1 month old but forgot about it until today.
I started doing some online research and came up with some disturbing results... one of which is a condition called Vitiligo. Does anyone have knowledge about this condition? Is it possible that he will not develop any additional patches in the future?
I made an appointment to see the dermatologist already but the earliest appointment is pretty far out. I'm driving myself a bit crazy thinking about all the possibilities :(
Most people have areas of different pigmentation. I think you might be worrying too much. I have a patch of very light skin on my right leg and a small blog of very dark skin on my left hip.
My blonde son has a patch of white hair right above one ear. It's been there since he was 7.
Be careful when doing online research for health. There are a lot of scare stories posted out there by non-medical professionals.
I have one of those on my hip from birth. Basically it is a birthmark. Birthmarks can look like all sorts of things, dark, red, pale white and a bunch more colors...
Before you start looking to see if you have a zebra (exotic explanation), make sure it isn't just a plain horse(some plain explanation)...
On birthmarks:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/birt...
Vitilligo is the condition that Michael Jackson had. I don't know... I think it's a bit early to take him to the dermatologist, why not just have the pedi take a look at it. Don't worry Momma I'm sure it's nothing!
My son has 1 , about the size of a nickel on his upper leg. He is 16 mos old & it hasn't changed. I noticed it when he was young, probably a month, also. My friends daughter has several small patches, she is 5, & they haven't became any worse either.
My daughter had a white patch on her leg. Dermatologist said he didn't know what it was but it was OK. I'd start telling myself that this is OK instead of "borrowing" trouble.
My Grandmother has Vitiligo so does a son of one of my best friends.
Next time you take him for a check up, just mention it to the doctor. It most likely is be a birth mark, but if it is Vitiligo it is not painful. There are special sunscreens he would need to use.
Do not freak out. Just take information as it comes.
My 6 year old daughter has a small white patch on her cheek. I tell her it's where the angels kissed her goodbye before they sent her down from heaven to be our little girl. :-) Actually, her dad has the same white patch on his arm, and it never seems to burn or anything, just stays white/without pigment. DDs pedi says don't worry about it.
You have gotten a lot of good answers so far. I want to reassure you though that even if it is Vitiligo, which I doubt, it is a condition that is easy to live with. I have two very good friends who have had it for years and lead perfectly normal lives. Every so often, someone will ask about a white streak in their hair or patch on their face, but it doesn't hurt and isn't dangerous at all.
