Strategies For Living With Albinism

Get An Annual Skin Assessment

The biggest concerns for patients with albinism are around skin protection and skin damage. Melanin offers some protection from the harmful effect of ultraviolet rays. Because the levels in those with albinism are so low, they are much more prone to skin damage. Due to this, individuals with the condition should get an annual skin assessment. This is especially important since moles and lesions can be harder to spot in patients with albinism, being more pink than brown. A body scan at a dermatologist’s office is a helpful tool. A camera scans the body each year, and the pictures are then compared using a computer that can identify small changes in the skin. This technique can discover new growths before they become more serious.

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Always Use Sunscreen

Due to the heightened risk of sun damage to skin, patients with albinism should always use sunscreen. The lack of melanin's protective effects makes the skin more susceptible to sunburn, thus, these individuals should use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF rating lengthens the amount of time an individual can be in direct sun before burning. An SPF of twenty means an individual can be in sunlight twenty times the normal amount. For best results, sunscreen should be applied thirty minutes before direct sun exposure. Patients with albinism may have to reapply sunscreen several times to maintain adequate protection. It is especially important for these individuals to reapply sunscreen after heavy sweating or swimming.

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