Albinism
Albinism is a congenital skin disorder that runs in family. A person suffering from this condition has a total absence or partial absence of skin pigmentation and in many cases from eye and hairs and is called ALBINO. The disease is pre-historic and has also been noticed in many animals.The disease occurs due to the genetic disorder that unable the body pigment cells (melanocytes) to synthesis and distributes melanin (coloring pigment) to the skin. It is believed that a person suffering from albinism is deficient of tyrosinase obtained from amino tyrosine acid which is essential for producing melanin this result in dysfunction of melanocytes and the skin appears to be pale white. If the disease is severe than the hairs and retina of the eyes are also de-pigmented and appears to white. The skin of the person suffering this condition is prone to sun burn which makes them more susceptible to skin cancer. Also albinistic people usually have problem of eye vision and in some cases the eyes may also appear red or purple in color due to complete absence of pigment. Albinism on the basis of its symptoms and severity is classified into two types:
Ocular Albinism:
In Ocular Albinism only the eye lack melanin pigment that result in vision problem however, the skin and hair almost have normal or near to normal skin pigmentation. The ocular albinism is further categorized into multiple forms.
Oculocutaneous Albinism:
Oculocutaneous Albinism is the severe condition for the absence of skin pigmentation and can result in total absence of pigment from both skin as well as eyes.
The disease is correlated to Vitiligo. It was misconceived that albinism is a severe case of Vitiligo; however, this was later proved that albinism is a congenital disease but Vitiligo may or may not be due to genetic pre-disposition. It is also believed by some that skin condition Vitiligo may be caused due to the deficiency of tyrosinase but it has not been proved yet. However, the researchers are being conducted to understand the pathogenesis of this skin condition so that Vitiligo cure can be achieved. However, the experts believe that Vitiligo treatment can help to manage the disease from further spreading.
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