Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Albinism?TypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Albinism?
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
People with the condition typically have light skin and hair and are highly sensitive to sun exposure. Aside from possible problems with vision, those with albinism are otherwise healthy. There is no cure for albinism, and treatment is typically centered on caring for the eyes and skin.
This article covers the different types and symptoms of albinism, as well as ways to manage the condition.
FG Trade / Getty Images
Albinism originates from the Latin wordalbus, meaning white. It refers to a rare genetic condition that disrupts the production of melanin—the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color.
Albinism is obvious at birth. Persons with the condition typically present with light skin, hair, and eyes. Due to a lack of melanin, their skin is very sensitive to light and sun. Problems with eyesight are also not uncommon.
Types of Albinism
There are many different types of albinism, but the term typically refers to two:oculocutaneous albinism(OCA)andocular albinism. There are seven types of OCA which are referred to as OCA types 1–7.
Albinism can occur alone or as a symptom of separate disorders, such asChediak-Higashisyndrome, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, andWaardenburg syndrome.
All types of albinism cause some lack of pigment, but the amount varies:
Young albino man.Vasily Pindyurin / Getty Images
Symptoms of Albinism
Hair Color
Hair color can range from very white to brown and, in some cases, be nearly the same as that of a person’s parents or siblings. People with albinism who are of African or Asian descent may have yellow, reddish, or brown hair. Sometimes a person’s hair will become darker as they get older or due to exposure to minerals in water and the environment.Eyelashesand eyebrows are usually very pale.
Skin Color
The complexion of a person with albinism may or may not be noticeably different from that of his or her immediate family members. Some individuals will develop freckles, moles (including pinkish ones that lack pigment), and large freckle-like spots called lentigines. They usually aren’t able to tan, but do sunburn easily.
Eye Color
This can range from very light blue to brown, and it may change with age. However, the lack of pigment in the irises prevents them from completely blocking light from entering the eye, so a person with albinism may appear to have red eyes in some lighting.
Vision
The most problematic characteristic of albinism is the effect it has on vision. Issues may include:
Causes of Albinism
Each type of albinism results from a mutation of aspecific gene on a specific chromosomethat causes a dysfunction of cells called melanocytes. These cells produce the melanin, or pigment, that imparts color to skin, hair, and eyes. In other words, melanin determines if someone is a blonde or a redhead, has blue eyes or hazel, and so on.
Albinism can occur alone or as a symptom of separate disorders.
Diagnosing Albinism
The distinctive physical characteristics and symptoms of albinism are usually enough to diagnose the condition. Note that there can be a great deal of variation among people with albinism.
The disorder could be detected with genetic testing, but this is rarely necessary or routinely done. However, genetic testing may be done to determine the specific type of albinism a person has, as well as the risk of passing down the gene to offspring.
Treating Albinism
There is no treatment or cure for albinism, but the skin sensitivity and vision problems do require attention throughout life.
Any treatment a person with albinism may need regarding eye or vision problems will depend on their individual symptoms. Some people may need to wear corrective lenses and nothing more; others whose vision is severely impaired may need low-vision support, such as large-print or high-contrast reading materials, large computer screens, and more.
Perhaps the most significant issues a person with albinism may have to deal with pertains to misperceptions about the disorder. Kids, in particular, may get questions, stares, or, unfortunately, even experience bullying or prejudice from their peers.
Parents may want to work with a counselor or therapist while their child with albinism is still young to prepare for this challenge. A good source of information and support about living with albinism can be found on theNational Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentationwebsite.
Summary
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hand JL.Oculocutaneous albinism.UpToDate.National Health Services.Albinism.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Oculocutaneous albinism.Genetics Home Reference.Oculocutaneous albinism.Porter D.What is Albinism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.NHS.Albinism.Kiprono SK, Chaula BM, Beltraminelli H.Histological review of skin cancers in African Albinos: a 10-year retrospective review.BMC Cancer. 2014.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hand JL.Oculocutaneous albinism.UpToDate.National Health Services.Albinism.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Oculocutaneous albinism.Genetics Home Reference.Oculocutaneous albinism.Porter D.What is Albinism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.NHS.Albinism.Kiprono SK, Chaula BM, Beltraminelli H.Histological review of skin cancers in African Albinos: a 10-year retrospective review.BMC Cancer. 2014.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hand JL.Oculocutaneous albinism.UpToDate.National Health Services.Albinism.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Oculocutaneous albinism.Genetics Home Reference.Oculocutaneous albinism.Porter D.What is Albinism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.NHS.Albinism.Kiprono SK, Chaula BM, Beltraminelli H.Histological review of skin cancers in African Albinos: a 10-year retrospective review.BMC Cancer. 2014.
Hand JL.Oculocutaneous albinism.UpToDate.
National Health Services.Albinism.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Oculocutaneous albinism.
Genetics Home Reference.Oculocutaneous albinism.
Porter D.What is Albinism?American Academy of Ophthalmology.
NHS.Albinism.
Kiprono SK, Chaula BM, Beltraminelli H.Histological review of skin cancers in African Albinos: a 10-year retrospective review.BMC Cancer. 2014.
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