skin disorders
Albinism
Introduction
Albinism is a rare hereditary disorder in which little or none of the skin pigment Overview of Skin Pigment is formed. The skin, hair, and eyes, or sometimes just the eyes, are affected. Typically, the hair and skin are white, and the eyes may be pink or pale blue-gray. Doctors usually diagnose albinism by examining the skin and eyes. There is no cure, but people with albinism should protect themselves from sunlight to prevent sunburn and reduce risk of skin cancer. (See also Overview of Skin Pigment .) Albinism is a disorder of Overview of Skin Pigment that occurs in people of all races and throughout the world. It is caused by several rare genetic disorders that, in addition to causing hypopigmentation (an abnormally low amount of melanin) or depigmentation (complete loss of pigment) of the skin, also affect the eyes with decreased vision, misalignment of the eyes ( A type of albinism, called ocular albinism, affects the eyes but usually not the skin and hair. Another type of albinism occurs with bleeding disorders. 