Albinism is caused by mutations, or changes, of certain genes that affect the amount of melanin your body produces. Melanin controls the pigmentation (color) of your skin, eyes, and hair. People with albinism have extremely pale skin, eyes, and hair because their bodies cannot produce enough melanin.
Most of the time, someone has albinism because they inherited the gene for it from both their mother and father. The specific gene mutations that cause albinism vary depending on the type of albinism. There are several different types of albinism, each caused by a different gene mutation.
While albinism is a rare genetic condition, it can impact individuals in significant ways, affecting their vision and making them more susceptible to skin cancer.
