How albinism changes pigment production
Melanin is the pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes. Specialized cells called melanocytes make it, but the process depends on proteins encoded by genes. In some forms of albinism, genetic changes interfere with the steps that produce melanin; in others, they affect how pigment is handled within cells. The result is reduced pigment, with the amount varying among people and types of albinism.
This is why albinism is not simply a matter of having a particular hair or skin color. A person may develop more pigment with age or after sun exposure, and appearance alone does not show exactly how much melanin the body makes.
Why the eyes can be affected too
Melanin also plays a role in the developing eye. When there is less of it, the retina—the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye—may develop differently, and visual signals may not follow their usual routes to the brain. Some people with albinism therefore have reduced sharpness of vision, sensitivity to bright light, or involuntary eye movements. These effects are not identical for everyone.
The practical consequences of less melanin
In skin, melanin helps absorb ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. With less pigment, skin can burn more easily, making sun protection especially important. The same biological change thus affects both how the body responds to light and how it senses it: reduced melanin can mean less natural protection outdoors and altered vision indoors or in bright conditions.
