Vitiligo and Hair Coloring

Hair dye — Photo: Elena Kitch/Shutterstock

Q: I have a white mustache because of vitiligo and want to color it brown how can I safely do this?

A: According to VitiligoSupport.org, people suffering from vitiligo should not use hair dyes or bleaches because many of the color formulas contain Phenols and use Hydrogen Peroxide which can trigger the spread of the condition to other areas of the skin.

There is also the fact that with vitiligo, the skin may be hypersensitive to otherwise "safe" chemical compounds and can be severely irritated by the exposure to the chemicals.

Doctors do say that temporary hair colors (those that do not use chemical processing to deposit color, but rather cover the surface of the hair with color) and henna hair colors can often be safely used. However, ALWAYS perform a patch test to make sure that you do not have a serious reaction due to hypersensitivity.

You will also want to be aware that because of the changes in the hair, the non-pigmented hair may be very resistant to color and that the temporary color or semi-permanent color (such as henna) may not last as long as the packaging indicates as a result.

Also, be sure to read the packaging on ANY hair color you intend to use thoroughly. Most hair colors that are not suited for use by persons with vitiligo have warnings against their use on the packaging.

©Hairfinder.com

See also:

The different types of hair color

How to color your hair with henna

What is a patch test and how do you do this test?