The Mystery of the Missing Melanocytes

One month ago today Noah awoke with a strange mark on his forehead.  It was splotchy and pink and oddly shaped.  We didn't quite know what to make of it.  It looked almost like a sunburn that had peeled, but we knew that wasn't a real possibility since this kid wears his ball cap non-stop.  Where did it come from?  Why had it suddenly appeared?  I took a picture to document it just in case it was something. 

A week later, while sitting in church, I noticed his eyelashes on his left eye were white.  Not completely white, but several lashes were completely white.  That added to my suspicions even more.  The splotch itself hadn't really changed but this new addition was odd.  I took a picture.

During the next week, I researched what I could on the internet about skin pigmentations.  The term I kept coming back to was "vitiligo."  Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanoctyes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function.  I had a friend who had this disease growing up, but her's covered her entire body, except her face.  Apparently there are several different types and differnt severities.  I made a call to the pediatrician.

 

Yesterday Noah was finally able to see the doctor.  Actually, he saw the doctor's P.A.  I wasn't too impressed by her and thought I seemed to be more educated on the topic.  She even went and pulled out a "clinical pediatric dermatologist" book so she could compare pictures to Noah's forehead.  She suspected the same thing and wrote me a referral to a pediatric dermatologist.  That was all I wanted in the first place! 

Now I have to wait for the doctor's office to call me with the specialist appointment.  The splotch hasn't seemed to really change, other than becoming a little pinker since he's developed a bit of a tan everywhere.  Oddly enough, last night one small edge started peeling a little.  Kids, and even one adult at church, have started asking Noah what's "on his head."  Make-up hasn't seemed to work and he's starting to become a little sensitive about it.  Hopefully the doctor's office will call quickly so we can get this figured out!