Albinism is a genetic disorder where melanocytes cannot produce enough melanin, resulting in a lack of color in hair, skin, and eyes. It is caused by a recessive gene, requiring both parents to carry the gene for a child to be affected. Albinism affects people of all races and can cause vision problems, skin problems, light sensitivity, and increased risk of skin cancer. Treatment focuses on protecting the skin from sun exposure and managing vision issues. Most people with albinism can expect a normal lifespan, though some related conditions may reduce life expectancy.

1. ALBINISM
Ana Souto Villanustre
Mrs Brown
Anatomy and Phisiology – 6th Period
Skin Disorder Project

2. WHAT IS ALBINISM?
Albinism is a genetic defect; it occurs when melanocytes cannot
make enough melanin to color hair, skin and eyes. There is no cure
for this disorder.

3. SOMETHING YOU SHOULD
REMEMBER…
The albinism gene is recessive, so both parents must carry and
pass down the gene to their child in order for him/her to be affected.

4. DOES IT AFFECT ALL RACES?
Albinism affects people from all races and most children with
albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for
their ethnic backgrounds.

5. SYMPTOMS
Vision problems Skin problems

6. SYMPTOMS
- Absence of color in the hair, skin, or iris of the eye
- Lighter than normal skin and hair
- Patchy, missing skin color
- Crossed eyes (strabismus)
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Rapid eye movements (nystagmus)
- Vision problems, or functional blindness
COMPLICATIONS:
Some of the possible complications are blindness and skin cancer.

7. TREATMENT
Reduce sunburn risk by
avoiding the sun, using
sunscreen, and covering
up completely with
clothing when exposed to
the sun.
Sunglasses (UV
protected) may relieve
light sensitivity.

8. TREATMENT
Glasses are often
prescribed to correct vision
problems and eye position.
Eye muscle surgery is
sometimes recommended
to correct abnormal eye
movements (nystagmus).

9. PROGNOSIS
People with albinism can expect to have a normal lifespan. But…
…those suffering from Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, the life
expectancy can be reduced due to lung disease or bleeding
disorders. Those people who have developed skin cancer may also
have a lower expectancy.

10. PROGNOSIS
People with albinism can expect to have a normal lifespan. But…
…those suffering from Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, the life
expectancy can be reduced due to lung disease or bleeding
disorders. Those people who have developed skin cancer may also
have a lower expectancy.