I do NOT dye my son’s hair.
When he went out for his first outing after his birth, his hair was not dyed.
During his first birthday, to all the people at the play area where he frolicked around, his hair was not dyed.
When my boyfriend is out at the store, the park, or the mall with my son, know that his hair has not been artificially altered. I mean, where could I even buy white hair dye???
Konnor was born with white “patches,” for lack of a better term, on his legs, tummy, and most prominent, his head. Something that was never diagnosed by a doctor, I find the likely diagnoses is Vitiligo.
While few cases of Vitiligo are reported at birth, this skin depigmentation is caused when melanocytes (cells that make pigment) are destroyed. The cause of Vitiligo is unknown at this time, though there are several theories on what causes the condition.
Being that his father has the same depigmentation on his forehead area and one leg, I am inclined to believe this is hereditary more than it is anything else. A vast majority of researchers, however, believe Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease, which means that Konnor’s body is at war with itself, thus leaving area where no pigment is present.
Ultimately, where Konnor has these “white patches” there is no skin color. The skin is white. So is his hair.
Did you know only about 1 percent of the world’s population have Vitiligo?? That’s only about 65 million people, of which only about 1-2 million live in the United States.
Konnor is my little giraffe, and while this name doesn’t bother him now, I’m sure in the future it will. I’m also sure that his hair will be the cause of many teasings to come. This means, as a mommy, I will have to work extra hard to make him realize that it’s okay to be different.
That it is okay to be unique.
I think he is so unique one day he’ll understand.
I think the post on his hair is neat. I know in the years to come he may not understand but just stay strong. You are such a wonderful, caring and loving mother.
Smack me! Before I read the post, I was wondering if an older sibling gave him a hair cut.
Then I read. I think it’s kind of cool, especially now that he’s older, and his hair has grown out.
And if you see my son out and about, it’s possible he DID dye his own hair, without assistance from me. :)