The absence of melanocytes leads to patches of skin and hair that are lighter than normal. Approximately 90 percent of affected individuals have a white section of hair near their front hairline (a white forelock). The eyelashes, the eyebrows, and the skin under the forelock may also be unpigmented.

How rare is a white forelock?

The classic white forelock observed in approximately 45% of individuals is the most common hair pigmentation anomaly seen in WS1.

What causes a white forelock?

Poliosis circumscripta is the white forelock that often occurs with piebaldism, which is also a symptom present in several other conditions. These include Waardenburg, tuberous sclerosis, inflammatory conditions, and both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.