Albinism in humans

Short description: Condition characterized by absence of pigment

Albinism

Other names| Achromia, achromasia, achromatosis
Young African boy with albinism
Pronunciation|

* albino (UK: /ælˈbiːnoʊ/,[1] or US: /ælˈbaɪnoʊ/)[2]

Specialty| Dermatology
Symptoms| Lack of skin pigmentation, white hair, yellow hair, red hair, red eyes
Complications| Photophobia, vulnerability to sunburn, skin cancers
Frequency| 1 in 17,000

Albinism is a congenital condition characterized in humans by the partial or complete absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is associated with a number of vision defects, such as photophobia, nystagmus, and amblyopia. Lack of skin pigmentation makes for more susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancers. In rare cases such as Chédiak–Higashi syndrome, albinism may be associated with deficiencies in the transportation of melanin granules. This also affects essential granules present in immune cells, leading to increased susceptibility to infection.[3]

Albinism results from inheritance of recessive gene alleles and is known to affect all vertebrates, including humans. It is due to absence or defect of tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme involved in the production of melanin. Unlike humans, other animals have multiple pigments and for these albinism is considered to be a hereditary condition characterised by the absence of melanin, in particular in the eyes, skin, hair, scales, feathers or cuticle.[4] While an organism with complete absence of melanin is called an albino, an organism with only a diminished amount of melanin is described as leucistic or albinoid.[5] The term is from the Latin albus, "white".

## Contents

* 1 Signs and symptoms
* 1.1 Vision problems
* 2 Genetics
* 2.1 Enzyme
* 2.2 Evolutionary theories
* 3 Comorbidities
* 4 Management
* 5 Epidemiology
* 6 Society and culture
* 6.1 Special status of albinos in Native American culture
* 6.2 Special status of albinos in Yoruba culture
* 6.3 Persecution of people with albinism
* 6.4 Albinism in popular culture
* 6.5 International Albinism Awareness Day
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## Signs and symptoms

Girl with albinism from Papua New Guinea

There are two principal types of albinism: oculocutaneous, affecting the eyes, skin and hair, and ocular, affecting the eyes only.

There are different types of oculocutaneous albinism depending on which gene has undergone mutation. With some there is no pigment at all. The other end of the spectrum of albinism is "a form of albinism called rufous oculocutaneous albinism, which usually affects dark-skinned people".[6]

According to the US National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, "With ocular albinism, the color of the iris of the eye may vary from blue to green or even brown, and sometimes darkens with age. However, when an optometrist or ophthalmologist examines the eye by shining a light from the side of the eye, the light shines back through the iris since very little pigment is present."[7]

Because individuals with albinism have skin that entirely lacks the dark pigment melanin, which helps protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet radiation, their skin can burn more easily from overexposure.[8]

The human eye normally produces enough pigment to color the iris blue, green or brown and lend opacity to the eye. In photographs, those with albinism are more likely to demonstrate "red eye", due to the red of the retina being visible through the iris. Lack of pigment in the eyes also results in problems with vision, both related and unrelated to photosensitivity.[9]

Those with albinism are generally as healthy as the rest of the population (but see related disorders below), with growth and development occurring as normal, and albinism by itself does not cause mortality,[10] although the lack of pigment blocking ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of melanomas (skin cancers) and other problems.[11]

### Vision problems

Malian Mandinka singer Salif Keita with albinism

Development of the optical system is highly dependent on the presence of melanin. For this reason, the reduction or absence of this pigment in people with albinism may lead to:

* Misrouting of the retinogeniculate projections, resulting in abnormal decussation (crossing) of optic nerve fibres[8]
* Photophobia and decreased visual acuity due to light scattering within the eye (ocular straylight)[8][12]
* Reduced visual acuity due to foveal hypoplasia and possibly light-induced retinal damage.[8]

Eye conditions common in albinism include:

* Nystagmus, irregular rapid movement of the eyes back and forth, or in circular motion.[8]
* Amblyopia, decrease in acuity of one or both eyes due to poor transmission to the brain, often due to other conditions such as strabismus.[8]
* Optic nerve hypoplasia, underdevelopment of the optic nerve.

The improper development of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which in normal eyes absorbs most of the reflected sunlight, further increases glare due to light scattering within the eye.[13] The resulting sensitivity (photophobia) generally leads to discomfort in bright light, but this can be reduced by the use of sunglasses or brimmed hats.[14]

## Genetics

Family with albinism, showing inheritance

Oculocutaneous albinism is generally the result of the biological inheritance of genetically recessive alleles (genes) passed from both parents of an individual such as OCA1 and OCA2. A mutation in the human TRP-1 gene may result in the deregulation of melanocyte tyrosinase enzymes, a change that is hypothesized to promote brown versus black melanin synthesis, resulting in a third oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) genotype, "OCA3".[15] Some rare forms are inherited from only one parent. There are other genetic mutations that are proven to be associated with albinism. All alterations, however, lead to changes in melanin production in the body.[10][16]

The chance of offspring with albinism resulting from the pairing of an organism with albinism and one without albinism is low. However, because organisms (including humans) can be carriers of genes for albinism without exhibiting any traits, albinistic offspring can be produced by two non-albinistic parents. Albinism usually occurs with equal frequency in both sexes.[10] An exception to this is ocular albinism, which it is passed on to offspring through X-linked inheritance. Thus ocular albinism occurs more frequently in males as they have a single X and Y chromosome, unlike females, whose genetics are characterized by two X chromosomes.[17]

There are two different forms of albinism: a partial lack of the melanin is known as hypomelanism, or hypomelanosis, and the total absence of melanin is known as amelanism or amelanosis.[18]

### Enzyme

The enzyme defect responsible for OCA1-type albinism is tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (tyrosinase), which synthesizes melanin from the amino acid tyrosine. [19]

### Evolutionary theories

It is suggested that the early genus Homo (humans in the broader sense) started to evolve in East Africa around 3 million years ago.[20] The dramatic phenotypic change from the ape-like Australopithecus to early Homo is hypothesized to have involved the extreme loss of body hair – except for areas most exposed to UV radiation, such as the head – to allow for more efficient thermoregulation in the early hunter-gatherers. The skin that would have been exposed upon general body hair loss in these early proto-humans would have most likely been non-pigmented, reflecting the pale skin underlying the hair of our chimpanzee relatives. A positive advantage would have been conferred to early hominids inhabiting the African continent that were capable of producing darker skin – those who first expressed the eumelanin-producing MC1R allele – which protected them from harmful epithelium-damaging ultraviolet rays. Over time, the advantage conferred to those with darker skin may have led to the prevalence of darker skin on the continent. The positive advantage, however, would have had to be strong enough so as to produce a significantly higher reproductive fitness in those who produced more melanin. The cause of a selective pressure strong enough to cause this shift is an area of much debate. Some hypotheses include the existence of significantly lower reproductive fitness in people with less melanin due to lethal skin cancer, lethal kidney disease due to excess vitamin D formation in the skin of people with less melanin, or simply natural selection due to mate preference and sexual selection.[20]

When comparing the prevalence of albinism in Africa to its prevalence in other parts of the world, such as Europe and the United States, the potential evolutionary effects of skin cancer as a selective force due to its effect on these populations may not be insignificant.[20] It would follow, then, that there would be stronger selective forces acting on albino individuals in Africa than on albinos in Europe and the US.[21] In two separate studies in Nigeria, very few people with albinism appear to survive to old age. One study found that 89% of people diagnosed with albinism are between 0 and 30 years of age, while the other found that 77% of albinos were under the age of 20.[21]

However, it has also been theorized that albinism may have been able to spread in some Native American communities, because albino males were culturally revered and assumed as having divine origins. The very high incidence of albinism among the Hopi tribe has been frequently attributed to the privileged status of albino males in Hopi society, who were not required to perform physical work outdoors, shielding them from the harmful effects of UV radiation. This privileged status of albino males in Hopi society allowed them to reproduce with large numbers of non-albino women, spreading the genes that are associated with albinism.[22][23]

## Comorbidities

Albinism can also be a feature alongside several syndromes:[24]

* ABCD syndrome
* Albinism-hearing loss syndrome
* Deafness, congenital, with total albinism
* Ermine phenotype in partial albinism
* Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 1 to 11 (excluding 9)
* Microcephaly-albinism-digital anomalies syndrome
* Ocular albinism with late-onset sensorineural deafness
* Ocular albinism, type II
* Oculocutaneous albinism types 1B, 3 to 7
* Tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism
* Tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism
* Vici syndrome
* Waardenburg syndrome, type 2A

## Management

Since there is no cure for albinism, it is managed through lifestyle adjustments. People with oculocutaneous albinism need to take care not to get sunburnt and should have regular skin checks by a dermatologist.[25]

For the most part, treatment of the eye conditions consists of visual rehabilitation. Surgery is possible on the extra-ocular muscles to decrease strabismus.[8] Nystagmus-damping surgery can also be performed, to reduce the "shaking" of the eyes back and forth.[26] Experimental vision treatments such as Revital Vision have also been proven to help treat albinism through therapy session that improve processing of visual input through the use of Gabor patches. The effectiveness of all these procedures varies greatly and depends on individual circumstances.[27]

Glasses (often with tinted lenses), low vision aids, and high contrast large-print or Braille materials can help individuals with albinism. Some people with albinism do well using bifocals (with a strong reading lens), prescription reading glasses, hand-held devices such as magnifiers or monoculars or wearable devices like eSight and Brainport.[14][28]

The condition may lead to abnormal development of the optic nerve and sunlight may damage the retina of the eye as the iris cannot filter out excess light due to a lack of pigmentation. Photophobia may be ameliorated by the use of sunglasses which filter out ultraviolet light.[29] Some use bioptics, glasses which have small telescopes mounted on, in, or behind their regular lenses, so that they can look through either the regular lens or the telescope. Newer designs of bioptics use smaller light-weight lenses. Some US states allow the use of bioptic telescopes for driving motor vehicles.[30] (See also NOAH bulletin "Low Vision Aids".)

There are a number of national support groups across the globe which come under the umbrella of the World Albinism Alliance.[31]

## Epidemiology

Albinism affects people of all ethnic backgrounds; its frequency worldwide is estimated to be approximately one in 17,000. Prevalence of the different forms of albinism varies considerably by population and is highest overall in people of sub-Saharan African descent.[32] Today, the prevalence of albinism in sub-Saharan Africa is around 1 in 5,000, while in Europe and the US it is around 1 in 20,000 of the European-derived population.[33][20] Rates as high as 1 in 1,000 have been reported for some populations in Zimbabwe and other parts of Southern Africa.[21]

Certain ethnic groups and populations in isolated areas exhibit heightened susceptibility to albinism, presumably due to genetic factors. These include notably the Native American Guna, Zuni and Hopi nations (respectively of Panama, New Mexico and Arizona); Japan, in which one particular form of albinism is unusually common (OCA 4);[34] and Ukerewe Island, the population of which shows a very high incidence of albinism.[35]

## Society and culture

### Special status of albinos in Native American culture

The man seated left is a Zuni with albinism. The Zuni people and other indigenous tribes of the American Southwest have a very high incidence of albinism.[36]

In some Native American and South Pacific cultures, people with albinism have been traditionally revered, because they were considered heavenly beings associated with the sky.[37][38] Among various indigenous tribes in South America, albinos were able to live luxurious lives due to their divine status.[39] This special status was applied mainly to male albinos.[40] It has been theorized that the very high level of albinism among some Native American tribes can be attributed to sexual privileges given to male albinos, which allowed them to reproduce with large numbers of non-albino women in their tribes, leading to the spread of genes that are associated with albinism.[37]

### Special status of albinos in Yoruba culture

Albinos in Yoruba mythology, Albinos are regarded as Obatala's favourite with a special place. In some parts of Yorubaland, Albinos are regarded as highly spiritual and are treated as such.[41]

### Persecution of people with albinism

Main article: Social:Persecution of people with albinism

See also: Muti killings and medicine murder

Humans with albinism often face social and cultural challenges (even threats), as the condition is often a source of ridicule, discrimination, or even fear and violence. It is especially socially stigmatised in some African societies. A study conducted in Nigeria on albino children stated that "they experienced alienation, avoided social interactions and were less emotionally stable. Furthermore, affected individuals were less likely to complete schooling, find employment, and find partners."[42] Many cultures around the world have developed beliefs regarding people with albinism.[43]

In Africa, Tanzania[44] and Burundi,[45][46] there has been an unprecedented rise in witchcraft-related killings of people with albinism in recent years, because their body parts are used in potions sold by witch doctors.[47] Numerous authenticated incidents of ritual sacrifice of albinos have occurred in East Africa during the 21st century.[48][49][50][51] For example, in Tanzania, in September 2009, three men were convicted of killing a 14-year-old albino boy and severing his legs in order to sell them for witchcraft purposes.[52] Again in Tanzania and Burundi in 2010, the murder and dismemberment of a kidnapped albino child was reported from the courts,[45] as part of a continuing problem. The US-based National Geographic Society estimated that in Tanzania a complete set of albino body parts is worth US$75,000.[53][54] An overview of Albinism in Malawi further highlights similar incidents. People with albinism in Malawi face significant challenges, including discrimination and violence.[55] Since 2014, over 170 attacks on people with albinism have been reported in Malawi.[56] In 2022, a Malawian court convicted 12 individuals, including a police officer and a priest, for the murder of a 22-year-old man with albinism.[57] In 2019, six individuals with albinism ran for parliamentary and local government positions in Malawi, aiming to combat stigma through political engagement.[58] The United Nations has warned that people with albinism in Malawi are at risk of "systemic extinction" due to relentless attacks fueled by superstitions.[59] Efforts have been made to integrate people with albinism into public service roles. In 2022, Malawi's police service welcomed its first officers with albinism, aiming to restore confidence in law enforcement.[60]

Another harmful and false belief is that sex with an albinistic woman will cure a man of HIV. This has led, for example in Zimbabwe, to rapes (and subsequent HIV infection).[61]

### Albinism in popular culture

Famous people with albinism include historical figures such as Oxford don William Archibald Spooner; actor-comedian Victor Varnado; musicians such as Johnny and Edgar Winter, Salif Keita, Winston "Yellowman" Foster, Brother Ali, Sivuca, Hermeto Pascoal, Willie "Piano Red" Perryman, his brother Speckled Red, Kalash Criminel; actor-rapper Krondon, and fashion models Connie Chiu, Ryan "La Burnt" Byrne and Shaun Ross.

Albinism organisations and others have expressed criticism over the portrayal of individuals with albinism in popular culture, specifically in movies and fictional works, citing the overwhelmingly negative depiction. There is concern that such depictions could increase social bias and discrimination against individuals with albinism.[62] This phenomenon is often referred to as the "evil albino" .

### International Albinism Awareness Day

International Albinism Awareness Day was established after a motion was accepted on 18 December 2014 by the United Nations General Assembly, proclaiming that 13 June would be known as International Albinism Awareness Day as of 2015.[63] This was followed by a mandate created by the United Nations Human Rights Council that appointed Ms. Ikponwosa Ero, who is from Nigeria, as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.[64]

## See also

* Albinism–deafness syndrome
* Dyschromia
* Erythrism, unusually red pigmentation
* Heterochromia iridum
* Human variability
* Isabellinism
* Light skin
* Marie Antoinette syndrome
* Nevus, or birthmark
* Piebaldism, patchy alternating loss of and concentrations of dermal pigmentation
* Vitiligo (or leukoderma), patchy loss of dermal pigmentation
* Xanthochromism and axanthism, unusually yellow pigmentation and lack of yellow pigment, respectively

## References

1. ↑ "albino". 2017. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/albino.
2. ↑ "American Pronunciation of albino". 2017. https://www.macmillandictionary.com/pronunciation/american/albino.
3. ↑ Kaplan, J.; De Domenico, I.; Ward, D. M. (2008). "Chediak-Higashi syndrome". Current Opinion in Hematology 15 (1): 22–29. doi:10.1097/MOH.0b013e3282f2bcce. PMID 18043242.
4. ↑ "Albinism". Encyclopædia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/12993/albinism. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
5. ↑ Tietz, W. (1963). "A Syndrome of Deaf-Mutism Associated with Albinism Showing Dominant Autosomal Inheritance". American Journal of Human Genetics 15 (3): 259–264. PMID 13985019.
6. ↑ "oculocutaneous albinism". Bethesda, Maryland: U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. October 2015. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/oculocutaneous-albinism/. Template:Tertiary source
7. ↑ "Information Bulletin – Ocular Albinism". National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. http://www.albinism.org/site/c.flKYIdOUIhJ4H/b.9260357/k.A94A/Information_Bulletin__Ocular_Albinism.htm.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Chen, Harold (2006). Atlas of genetic diagnosis and counseling. Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press. pp. 37–40. ISBN 978-1-58829-681-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=2VcdAXJ_dZkC&q=Albinism&pg=PA36. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
9. ↑ Khanna, Pragya (30 December 2013). Essentials of Genetics. I. K. International. ISBN 978-93-80026-34-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=ByQ07W-RxIwC.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Boissy, Raymond E. (21 July 2016). "Dermatologic Manifestations of Albinism". in James, William D.. eMedicine / WebMD. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1068184-overview.
11. ↑ Richter, Roxane; Flowers, Thomas; Bongmba, Elias (2017). Witchcraft as a Social Diagnosis: Traditional Ghanaian Beliefs and Global Health. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-1-4985-2319-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ik8DDgAAQBAJ.
12. ↑ Kruijt, Bastiaan; Franssen, Luuk; Prick, Liesbeth J. J. M.; Van Vliet, Johannes M. J.; Van Den Berg, Thomas J. T. P. (2011). "Ocular Straylight in Albinism". Optometry and Vision Science 88 (5): E585–592. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e318212071e. PMID 21358444.
13. ↑ Sowka, Joseph W.; Gurwood, Andrew S.; Kabat, Allan G. (15 April 2009). "Albinism". New York: Jobson Medical Information. pp. 63A–65A. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/CMSDocuments/2009/9/ro0409_handbook.pdf.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 King, Richard; Summers, C. Gail; Haefemeyer, James W.; LeRoy, Bonnie (2004). "Facts About Albinism". University of Minnesota. http://albinism.med.umn.edu/newfacts.htm.
15. ↑ Boissy, R. E.; Zhao, H.; Oetting, W. S.; Austin, L. M.; Wildenberg, S. C.; Boissy, Y. L.; Zhao, Y.; Sturm, R. A. et al. (1996). "Mutation in and lack of expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) in melanocytes from an individual with brown oculocutaneous albinism: A new subtype of albinism classified as "OCA3"". American Journal of Human Genetics 58 (6): 1145–1156. PMID 8651291.
16. ↑ Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, at Johns Hopkins University (see also Mendelian Inheritance in Man for more information about this source).
17. ↑ Haldeman-Englert, Chad (6 November 2017). "Sex-linked recessive". The ADAM Medical Encyclopedia. Bethesda, Maryland / Atlanta, Georgia, US: U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health / Ebix Inc.. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002051.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
18. ↑ Frayne, James F. (2018). Applications of Genetics. Montana Publications.
19. ↑ Dolinska, M. B.; Kovaleva, E.; Backlund, P.; Wingfield, P. T.; Brooks, B. P.; Sergeev, Y. V. (2014). "Albinism-Causing Mutations in Recombinant Human Tyrosinase Alter Intrinsic Enzymatic Activity". PLOS ONE 9 (1). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0084494. PMID 24392141. Bibcode: 2014PLoSO...984494D.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Greaves, M. (2014). "Was skin cancer a selective force for black pigmentation in early hominin evolution?". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 281 (1781). doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.2955. PMID 24573849.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Hong, E. S.; Zeeb, H.; Repacholi, M. H. (2006). "Albinism in Africa as a public health issue". BMC Public Health 6. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-212. PMID 16916463.
22. ↑ Hedrick, Philip W. (2005) (in en). Genetics of Populations. Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 2, 186. ISBN 978-0-7637-4772-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=rzoLdpRMR1gC&dq=albino+male+sexual+hopi&pg=PA186. ""An often-cited example of pleiotropic effects of viability and male-mating success in humans is for albinism in Hopi Indians, a small tribe in northern Arizona.""
23. ↑ Shuttleworth, Russell P. (2000) (in en). The Pursuit of Sexual Intimacy for Men with Cerebral Palsy. University of California, San Francisco. p. 74. https://books.google.com/books?id=nacDq2gTeAQC&q=albino+male+sexual+hopi. ""The apparent reason for this phenomenon is that albino Hopi men developed a sexual advantage over non-albino men.""
24. ↑ "Albinism (Concept Id: C0001916)" (in en). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/182.
25. ↑ "Information Bulletin – Sun Protection - National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation" (in en-US). 2018-01-27. https://albinism.org/information-bulletin-sun-protection/.
26. ↑ Lee, J. (May 2002). "Surgical management of nystagmus". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 95 (5): 238–241. doi:10.1177/014107680209500506. PMID 11983764.
27. ↑ Liu, Siyin; Kuht, Helen J.; Moon, Emily Haejoon; Maconachie, Gail D. E.; Thomas, Mervyn G. (1 March 2021). "Current and emerging treatments for albinism". Survey of Ophthalmology 66 (2): 367–371. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.10.007. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039625720301454. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
28. ↑ Pardes, Arielle (20 July 2017). "The Wearables Giving Computer Vision to the Blind". Wired (Condé Nast). https://www.wired.com/story/wearables-for-the-blind/. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
29. ↑ "Albinism causes". 20 March 2018. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Albinism-Causes.aspx.
30. ↑ Owsley, C. (2012). "Driving with bioptic telescopes: organizing a research agenda". Optom Vis Sci 89 (9): 1249–1256. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e3182678dc8. PMID 22863791.
31. ↑ Anon (7 January 2015). "World Albinism Alliance". WAA. https://worldalbinism.org/2015/01/07/introduction-to-the-world-albinism-alliance/.
32. ↑ Gronskov, K.; Ek, J.; Brondum-Nielsen, K. (2 November 2007). "Oculocutaneous albinism". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 2. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-2-43. PMID 17980020.
33. ↑ "About Albinism and Hypopigmentation". National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. 15 December 2020. https://www.albinism.org/about-albinism/.
34. ↑ "Entry - #606574 - Albinism, Oculocutaneous, Type IV; OCA4 - OMIM". https://omim.org/entry/606574.
35. ↑ "Ukerewe Albino Society". 2009. http://www.southern-africas-children.org.uk/ukerewe-albino.html.
36. ↑ Yi, Z.; Garrison, N.; Cohen-Barak, O.; Karafet, T. M.; King, R. A.; Erickson, R. P.; Hammer, M. F.; Brilliant, M. H. (January 2003). "A 122.5-kilobase deletion of the P gene underlies the high prevalence of oculocutaneous albinism type 2 in the Navajo population.". American Journal of Human Genetics 72 (1): 62–72. doi:10.1086/345380. PMID 12469324.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Hedrick, Philip W. (June 2003). "Hopi Indians, cultural selection, and albinism" (in en). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 121 (2): 151–156. doi:10.1002/ajpa.10180. ISSN 0002-9483. PMID 12740958.
38. ↑ Lester, Paul Martin (2003) (in en). Visual Communication: Images with Messages. Thomson/Wadsworth. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-534-56244-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=oG9QAAAAMAAJ&q=native+americans+albinos+"visual+communication".
39. ↑ Kromberg, Jennifer; Manga, Prashiela (2 January 2018) (in en). Albinism in Africa: Historical, Geographic, Medical, Genetic, and Psychosocial Aspects. Academic Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-12-813317-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=rScsDwAAQBAJ&dq=native+americans+revered+albinism&pg=PA58.
40. ↑ Nagle, James J. (1984) (in en). Heredity and Human Affairs. Times Mirror/Mosby. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-8016-3626-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=SV8KAQAAMAAJ&q=hopi+albinism+social+status. ""Albino men in particular have been socially accepted in the dark-skinned Hopi society.""
41. ↑ David (2018-12-12). "The plight of albinos in Southern Nigeria" (in en). The Sun (Lagos, Nigeria). https://thesun.ng/the-plight-of-albinos-in-southern-nigeria/.
42. ↑ Magna, P. (January 2014). "Biology and genetics of Oculocutaneous albinism and vitiligo-common pigmentation disorders in Southern Africa". South African Medical Journal 103 (1): 984–988. doi:10.7196/samj.7046. PMID 24300644. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/samj/article/view/98355.
43. ↑ Jennifer G R Kromberg; Flynn, Kaitlyn A; Kerr, Robyn A (2023-07-13). "Determining a Worldwide Prevalence of Oculocutaneous Albinism: A Systematic Review" (in en). Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 64 (10): 14. doi:10.1167/iovs.64.10.14. PMID 37440261.
44. ↑ "Living in fear: Tanzania's albinos". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 21 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7518049.stm.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Burundi albino boy 'dismembered'". BBC News. 24 October 2010. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11614957.
46. ↑ "Burundian albino murders denied". BBC News. 19 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8057956.stm.
47. ↑ Vogel, Franck (August 2010). "Zeru, Zeru: Being Albino in Tanzania". Visura Magazine (Westford, Vermont: Foto Visura) (10). http://www.visuramagazine.com/franck-vogel-zeru-zeru.
48. ↑ "Man 'tried to sell' albino wife". BBC News. 13 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7726743.stm.
49. ↑ "Tanzania albinos targeted again". BBC News. 27 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/africa/7527729.stm.
50. ↑ Ntetema, Vicky (24 July 2008). "In hiding for exposing Tanzania witchdoctors". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7523796.stm.
51. ↑ "Mothers hacked in albino attacks". BBC News. 14 November 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7730193.stm.
52. ↑ "Death for Tanzania albino killers". BBC News. 23 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8270446.stm.
53. ↑ Ingber, Sasha; Martin, Jacquelyn (27 January 2013). "Pictures: Inside the Lives of Albinos in Tanzania". National Geographic News (Washington DC: National Geographic Society). http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/01/130125-albino-albinism-tanzania-witch-doctors/.
54. ↑ Tanzanians with albinism targeted for witchcraft. UNICEF. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2017 - via YouTube.
55. ↑ "A friend killed, and inquiries shelved: life fighting the stigma of albinism in Malawi". The Guardian. 2025-04-22. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/apr/22/albinism-malawi-tonney-mkwapatira.
56. ↑ "Albinism Community in Malawi Demands an End to Attacks". VOA News. 2023-07-10. https://www.voanews.com/a/albinism-community-in-malawi-demands-an-end-to-attacks-/7170820.html.
57. ↑ "Malawi Court Convicts 12 People in Albino Attack". VOA News. 2022-05-03. https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-court-convicts-12-people-in-albino-attack/6551058.html.
58. ↑ "Malawi albinos: Six people to stand in 2019 elections to fight stigma". CNN. 2018-06-26. https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/africa/albino-contest-malawi-election/index.html.
59. ↑ "UN Official: People With Albinism Risk 'Extinction' in Malawi". VOA News. 2016-05-04. https://www.voanews.com/a/un-official-people-with-albinism-risk-extinction-malawi/3309536.html.
60. ↑ "Malawi Police Welcomes Country's First Albino Officers". VOA News. 2022-08-25. https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-police-welcomes-country-s-first-albino-officers/6722268.html.
61. ↑ Machipisa, Lewis (25 November 2002). "The Last Minority Group to Find a Voice". Inter Press Service News Agency. http://www.ipsnews.net/2002/11/rights-zimbabwe-the-last-minority-group-to-find-a-voice/.
62. ↑ "'Evil Albino' missing from 2004 movies. Will The Da Vinci Code revive the cliché?" , The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation, 6 January 2005; accessed 15 December 2006
63. ↑ "International Albinism Awareness Day". https://www.un.org/en/events/albinismday/index.shtml.
64. ↑ "Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism". Geneva: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Albinism/Pages/IEAlbinism.aspx.

## External links

* GeneReview/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 2
* GeneReview/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 4
* Dunning, Brian (29 July 2014). "Skeptoid #425: Albinism Facts and Fiction". https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4425.

Classification|

* ICD-11: EC23.2
* ICD-10: E70.3
* ICD-9-CM: 270.2
* OMIM: 203100
* MeSH: D000417
* DiseasesDB: 318

|

External resources|

* MedlinePlus: 001479
* eMedicine: derm/12

* v
* t
* e

Pigmentation disorders/Dyschromia

Hypo-/
leucism|

| Loss of
melanocytes|

| Vitiligo|

* Quadrichrome vitiligo
* Vitiligo ponctué

|

Syndromic|

* Alezzandrini syndrome
* Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada syndrome

Melanocyte
development|

* Piebaldism
* Waardenburg syndrome
* Tietz syndrome

Loss of melanin/
amelanism|

| Albinism|

* Oculocutaneous albinism
* Ocular albinism

|

Melanosome
transfer|

* Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome
* Chédiak–Higashi syndrome
* Griscelli syndrome
* Elejalde syndrome
* Griscelli syndrome type 2
* Griscelli syndrome type 3

Other|

* Cross syndrome
* ABCD syndrome
* Albinism–deafness syndrome
* Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis
* Phylloid hypomelanosis
* Progressive macular hypomelanosis

Leukoderma w/o
hypomelanosis|

* Vasospastic macule
* Woronoff's ring
* Nevus anemicus

Ungrouped|

* Nevus depigmentosus
* Postinflammatory hypopigmentation
* Pityriasis alba
* Vagabond's leukomelanoderma
* Yemenite deaf-blind hypopigmentation syndrome
* Wende–Bauckus syndrome

Hyper-|

| Melanin/
Melanosis/
Melanism|

| Reticulated|

* Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis
* Pigmentatio reticularis faciei et colli
* Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura
* Reticular pigmented anomaly of the flexures
* Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn syndrome
* Dyskeratosis congenita
* X-linked reticulate pigmentary disorder
* Galli–Galli disease
* Revesz syndrome

|

Diffuse/
circumscribed|

* Lentigo/Lentiginosis: Lentigo simplex
* Liver spot
* Centrofacial lentiginosis
* Generalized lentiginosis
* Inherited patterned lentiginosis in black persons
* Ink spot lentigo
* Lentigo maligna
* Mucosal lentigines
* Partial unilateral lentiginosis
* PUVA lentigines

* Melasma
* Erythema dyschromicum perstans
* Lichen planus pigmentosus
* Café au lait spot
* Poikiloderma (Poikiloderma of Civatte
* Poikiloderma vasculare atrophicans)
* Riehl melanosis

Linear|

* Incontinentia pigmenti
* Scratch dermatitis
* Shiitake mushroom dermatitis

Other/
ungrouped|

* Acanthosis nigricans
* Freckle
* Familial progressive hyperpigmentation
* Pallister–Killian syndrome
* Periorbital hyperpigmentation
* Photoleukomelanodermatitis of Kobori
* Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation
* Transient neonatal pustular melanosis

Other
pigments|

| Iron|

* Hemochromatosis
* Iron metallic discoloration
* Pigmented purpuric dermatosis
* Schamberg disease
* Majocchi's disease
* Gougerot–Blum syndrome
* Doucas and Kapetanakis pigmented purpura/Eczematid-like purpura of Doucas and Kapetanakis
* Lichen aureus
* Angioma serpiginosum
* Hemosiderin hyperpigmentation

|

Other
metals|

* Argyria
* Chrysiasis
* Arsenic poisoning
* Lead poisoning
* Titanium metallic discoloration

Other|

* Carotenosis
* Tar melanosis

Dyschromia|

* Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria
* Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria

See also|

* Skin color
* Skin whitening
* Tanning
* Sunless
* Tattoo
* removal
* Depigmentation

Template:Skin colors

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