Information on Albinism

Albinism is a group of inherited conditions that are characterised by the production of little or no melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives color to the hair eyes and skin. The tyoe and amount of melanin produced by the body determines the color of the skin hair and eyes of an individual. Thus most Persons With Albinism have pale skin, sandy colored hair and very little pigment in their eyes resulting in acute sensitivity when it comes to their interaction with the sun. This results in high vulnerability of the same community to cancer of the skin. 

It is interesting to note that albinism is a condition existing not only among human being but also among all living creatures which include animals, birds and plants. However, this website focuses primarily on Albinism in the human famoily and will therefore look at the types of albinism within the context of the human family. the following are some of the types of albinism which are in existance:

This is caused by a mutation in one of four genes. People with Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA Type 1) have milky skin, white hair and blue eyes at birth and they never experience an increase in their pigmentation as life progresses. This is the case regardless of their ethnicit, tribe or skin color of parents. Some may produce a bit of melanin at an early age with one of the signs being the production of a sandish brown color or in some instances a reddish color of the hair with the irises also having a chance of chanig color and becoming less transluscent. 

This type is the most prevalant among Persons of an African descent with its presence being felt the most in Sub-Sahara Africa, African Americans and those of a Native American descent. From birth, the hair of a person with this type of albinism may be yellow, auburn, ginger or red, the eyes can be blue-gray or tan and the skin is white at birth. With sun exposure, over time, the skin may develop freckles, moles or lentigines. 

People with OCA Type 3 are mostly found in Southern Africa as well. Their main distinguishing feature is their reddish-brown skin, ginger or reddish hair and hazel colored eyes. 

The cause of the X- Linked Ocular Albinism, which is mostly prevelant among men is a mutation on the X - Chromosome. People with this type of albinism have vision problems but the coloring of their hair, skin and eyes is normally consistant with that of their parents or tribes of origin. They may be lighter than that of their other family members when it comes to their complexion but there is still a lot of consistancy in the color of their skin when compared to that of the rest of their family members. 

This is an extreamly rare condition emanating from the mutation ofone of at least eight different genes. This condition is mostly prevalant in Peurto Rico. Persons with this condition share commomndistinguishing features to those with OCA type though they will also have the unique problem of being susceptible to serious bleeding disorders as well as a serious vulnerability to lung and bowel diseases.