Heterochromia of the scalp hair (2024)

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Heterochromia of the scalp hair (1)

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An 11-year-old Chinese boy with black hair and black eyes had a tuft of brown hair on the crown of his head that had been there since birth (Figure 1). The colour had not changed substantially over the years, and he was in good health. There was no history of similar hair findings in other members of his family. Physical examination revealed normal physical development, and the skin of his scalp was normal. Except for a tuft of brown hair on the vertex of his head, the colour of the rest of his hair, including his eyebrows and eyelashes, was black. His nails and teeth were normal, and he had no ocular or audiologic abnormalities. Under light microscopy, the brown hairs were thinner than the black hairs (Figure 2) and the pigmentation was hom*ogeneous along the length of the hair shaft. A diagnosis of heterochromia of the scalp hair was made.

Heterochromia of the scalp hair (3)

Under light microscopy, the brown hairs were thinner than the black hairs.

Heterochromia of the hair is described as the growth of hair with two distinct colours in the same person.1,2 When the distribution of the different-coloured hair is symmetric (e.g., lighter hair on the underarms, a red moustache on a person with otherwise brown hair), heterochromia of the hair is often physiologic.1,2 However, when heterochromia is asymmetrically distributed, it reflects a pigmentation disorder, which may have a genetic basis.2

In addition to being symmetric or asymmetric in location, heterochromic hair can be segmented or occur in tufts. Segmented heterochromia of the scalp hair, which is associated with iron deficiency anemia, is characterized by alternating dark and light segments on each hair.1 Our patient had a tuft of heterochromic hair that was distributed in a whorl pattern, consistent with the Blaschko lines of the vertex of the head, which was suggestive of somatic mosaicism of the genes affecting pigmentation.2 (Blaschko lines are skin lines invisible under normal conditions that may become apparent with some diseases of the skin or mucosa, and may represent fetal epidermal cell migration.3) Heterochromia of the hair that presents in tufts can also occur in specific pigmentary conditions, such as a tuft of dark coarse hair in a melanocytic nevus, hairs in vitiligo lesions, a band of white hair in children who have recovered from kwashiorkor and the white forelock in piebaldism.

Footnotes

This article has been peer reviewed.

Competing interests: None declared.

REFERENCES

1. Yoon KH, Kim D, Sohn S, et al. Segmented heterochromia in scalp hair. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;49:1148–50 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

2. Iorizzo M, Piraccini BM, Tosti A. Heterochromia of the scalp hair following Blaschko lines. Pediatr Dermatol 2007;24:69–70 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

3. Happle R, Assim A. The lines of Blaschko on the head and neck. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:612–5 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

Heterochromia of the scalp hair (2024)

FAQs

How rare is scalp hair heterochromia? ›

Isolated patchy heterochromia of the scalp hair is a rare entity, and a very few cases have been described in the literature.

What is heterochromia of the hair? ›

Heterochromia of the hair is described as the growth of hair with two distinct colours in the same person. 1,2. When the distribution of the different-coloured hair is symmetric (e.g., lighter hair on the underarms, a red moustache on a person with otherwise brown hair), heterochromia of the hair is often physiologic.

What does it mean when your scalp is two different colors? ›

Heterochromia of the scalp hair is a rare phenomenon characterized by the presence of two distinct colors of the scalp hair in the same person. [1] Typically, colors such as brown, blond, red, and yellow hair presenting in the background of dark color hairs have been described in previous studies.

Can you have naturally multicolored hair? ›

Levels of melanin can vary over time, causing a person's hair color to change, and it is possible for one person to have hair follicles of more than one color.

What is the rarest 2 hair color? ›

Only 2% have naturally blond hair, and the rarest hair color is natural red, which is less than 2% of the population. There's also something called hair heterochromia, which is where your hair is naturally. two different colors, and less than 1% of the population has this.

What is the rarest combination of hair and eye? ›

According to an article by evolutionary biology professor Mark Elgar, PhD, of the University of Melbourne, blue-eyed redheads are the absolute rarest, with 0.17% of the population having that combination of hair and eye color. So if that describes you, you're most likely one in a million—or more!

What is the rarest heterochromia? ›

There are three types of heterochromia: complete heterochromia, central heterochromia and sectoral heterochromia. Each type has its own unique visual traits. Complete heterochromia: Two “mismatched” eyes of completely different colors. This is the least common form of heterochromia.

Is it good to have heterochromia? ›

Most of the time, it doesn't cause any problems. It's often just a quirk caused by genes passed down from your parents or by something that happened when your eyes were forming. In rare cases, it can be a symptom of a medical condition. Heterochromia is common in some animals but rare in humans.

Does heterochromia go away? ›

Once a person develops the condition, at birth or later in life, the difference in eye color tends to persist throughout their lifetime. Heterochromia doesn't go away on its own but may have external influence (medical problem or injury).

Why do I have two different hair types on my head? ›

The most common reason for having multi-textured hair is genetics. If you're desiring hair that is completely different from yours, you are sure to get frustrated. If you have multiple textures, it is normal and you're not alone. Vitamin deficiencies or medication can cause a change in hair texture, but not always.

What color is an unhealthy scalp? ›

RED: Better watch out as this is a “red flag”. This is the next step from a pink scalp reflecting declined immune system, sun burn or external cause of inflammation, along with bad micro-circulation.

What is the most expensive hair color in the world? ›

PLATINUM HAIR is the most expensive hair color in the world. Why? Because it takes so many products, so much maintenance, and constant care to keep it looking like this.

What causes scalp heterochromia? ›

Heterochromia may be inherited or caused by genetic mosaicism (when a person has two or more genetically different sets of cells in their body), chimerism (the presence of two or more different sets of DNA), disease or injury.

How rare is hair heterochromia? ›

Similarly, hair heterochromia following lines of Blaschko is extremely rare and is thought to represent a form of pigmentary mosaicism affecting hair follicles in a Blaschkoid distribution. The genetic alterations that have been described are heterogeneous.

What is the rarest natural hair color to have? ›

Natural red hair is the rarest hair color in the world. A mere one to two percent of people are born with auburn hair. The prevalence is slightly higher in the northern and western fringes of Europe, especially the British Isles (mainly Ireland and Scotland), than in the rest of the world.

What are the rarest human hair colors? ›

Yes, auburn or red hair can be natural. Red hair is in fashion these days. Natural red hair is the rarest hair color in the world. A mere one to two percent of people are born with auburn hair.

How rare is poliosis hair? ›

Poliosis is a rare, uncommon condition and the incidence is unclear. However, it is thought to be between 1:40,000 and 1:100,000 among Caucasians. There is no difference in incidence between men and women or across ethnic groups, but the disease is more visible and noticeable in people with darker skin.

Why do I have random red hairs on my head? ›

Genetic Mutation: A gene known as MC1R is responsible for pigment production in hair cells. When this gene mutates, it may result in the production of red hair. This mutation can occur in anyone, regardless of their primary hair color.

What is the second most common hair color in the world? ›

Global statistics show that black is the most common hair colour, followed by brown. Black and brown hair strands are usually thicker, as well as darker, than blonde hair.

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