Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Very worried about newborn’s white hairs

27 replies

Michael907 · 01/12/2023 16:35

My newborn daughter was born one week ago, after a long IVF journey and a traumatic c-section. she is beautiful.
Like her mum and me, she has dark hair. However at the back of her vertex, on the scalp she has a collection of 10-15 white hairs. I’ve read several studies suggesting this is an early sign for the rare genetic disease tuberus sclerosis complex - (TSC) which it seems can range from quite mild to really debilitating.
The pediatrician didn’t seem too worried and just suggested a follow up with an opthomologist. When I mentioned the TSC possibility to my wife she got very upset and asked that we focus on enjoying our new child (given how hard it was to have her - fair enough!).
I’ve seen a few other people posting on this site with similar stories and I guess I’m just looking for some positive stories where the white hair truly did turn out to be nothing but a birthmark or a harmless genetic thing.
Thank you all

OP posts:
Original poster
Michael907 · 01/12/2023 16:36

Pictures

Very worried about newborn’s white hairs
Very worried about newborn’s white hairs
Very worried about newborn’s white hairs
OP posts:
Lizzieregina · 01/12/2023 16:40

I wasn’t sure what you meant by “white hair” but those photos look very like my DD’s hair when she was born. She had a mop of dark hair, with what I considered to be a “blond streak”. She still has a massive mop of hair, but no blond streak and, thankfully is a perfectly healthy young adult.

I am with your wife here, try to enjoy the beautiful little baby you waited so long for.

lumpfy · 01/12/2023 16:49

Gosh, well I've never heard of TSC before but when DS1 was born his hair looked exactly like your daughter's - i.e. a collection of 10-15 white hairs in a patch. I assumed it was a harmless genetic thing and have never sought medical advice.

He's now 25, still has a few white hairs in the same place but perfectly fit and well. Hope that puts your mind at rest.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
Geneticsbunny · 01/12/2023 16:50

It is very unlikely to be tsc. It is way more common to have hypomelinated patches than tsc.

Call her rogue after the x men character and you will be sorted.

BertieBotts · 01/12/2023 16:53

That looks like normal newborn hair. Try not to worry :)

Pinkest · 01/12/2023 16:55

I just want to echo the previous comments but also to say congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/12/2023 17:06

Honestly I'm not surprised that your DW is upset. Do you often have health anxiety?

Scirocco · 01/12/2023 17:09

That can be (and almost always is) entirely normal. TSC is very rare.

Babies' hair can do weird things, I'd try not to worry.

Muggone · 01/12/2023 17:11

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/12/2023 17:06

Honestly I'm not surprised that your DW is upset. Do you often have health anxiety?

Did you mean to be so rude?

WeneedSamVimesonthecase · 01/12/2023 17:15

DH has this, he was born with it. Nearly 50 years later, there's been no noticeable ill effects...

hiredandsqueak · 01/12/2023 17:17

Dn had just the same, he's thirty five now and still has a small white patch of hair and perfectly healthy. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.

flowerchild2000 · 01/12/2023 17:19

If anything is going on with her health it will come to light. My DD has a couple of indications of things that could have been signs of disease. I showed them to her doctor and luckily I wasn't treated like a hysterical mother, the doctor listened and observed and in the end nothing was wrong at all. I wouldn't have known the signs if I didn't have the internet. Which is a good thing of course. I suggest you do the same- advocate for your baby, wait and observe, and do NOT google it again. Most likely everything is fine, and all you can do is be patient at this point. Do enjoy her as well, no matter the health outcome enjoying your time with her is most important 💐

WonderingWanda · 01/12/2023 17:24

My dd had streak of white hair and some birth marks. I had totally forgotten about it because obviously her hair is now long...I'm off to see if it's still there. I think it's really quite normal.

WonderingWanda · 01/12/2023 17:25

I should add I was really worried it was a sign of something wrong when she was a newborn too....it seemed so noticeable.

HappyAsASandboy · 01/12/2023 17:31

My DS has a patch of white hair in exactly the same place. It has stayed as he's grown.

He is 13 years old now and fit and healthy. I've no idea what the genetic condition is, but DS doesn't seem to have it despite having the patch of white hair in exactly the same place.

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby Flowers

96waystobehappy · 01/12/2023 17:34

I’m so relieved for you that you got these answers! I know nothing about it but felt worried when I read your post then felt relieved as I read down so hope you are feeling that way too!

Sidebeforeself · 01/12/2023 17:35

Ah bless you, of course you are worried..sh’es your most precious thing. Im sure you will be fretting over nothing. Adorable little newborn head ..just needs a kiss!

WowOK · 01/12/2023 17:39

My nephew has a patch the size if a 10p on the back of his head. He's now 10. There's no sign of any issues. He's very bright and a straping lad.

Original poster
Michael907 · 01/12/2023 18:09

Thanks everybody for the quick responses - they were very reassuring. I think I just needed to hear some examples of people who had similar and were fine. It’s hard to switch off the worry when you’ve had it for a while, pre-birth. Thanks again 🙏

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 01/12/2023 18:33

Step away from Dr Google.

Are you normally a fretful person or prone to catastrophising?

Original poster
Michael907 · 01/12/2023 18:51

I would say not for other things, but the long IVF process also involved various rare complications, that made me think we were jinxed even after the birth.

OP posts:
troppibambini6 · 01/12/2023 19:08

It just looks like a Mallen streak. Totally normal.
Congratulations on your new baby

NC1000045 · 01/12/2023 19:30

Never heard of TSC - how hard did you have to work to come up with that as a potential diagnosis?!

I have a patch of white hair which I’ve had since birth. It’s lack of pigment, and the only impact is that I have never been able to use packet hair dye and some of my hair would be a totally different colour!

Strongly suggest you focus on supporting your wife and enjoying your baby, as whatever might happen in future (and with children you never quite know what’s coming your way!) will be one hell of a lot harder if you’ve driven her mad with worry and stress in the meantime!!

SleepingStandingUp · 01/12/2023 19:34

Michael907 · 01/12/2023 18:51

I would say not for other things, but the long IVF process also involved various rare complications, that made me think we were jinxed even after the birth.

You're not jinxed, you have a beautiful baby girl. And even if there ever is anything wrong with her medically speaking, she will still be your perfect girl.

Anxiety over the most precious thing to ever have existed in the known universe is normal, try not to let it get to you tho. Enjoy baby and you and your partner look after each other.

Original poster
Michael907 · 01/12/2023 20:27

Thanks everybody / it’s much appreciated

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread