Understanding albinism in the Indian context

In India’s image-conscious society, individuals with albinism often find themselves both hyper-visible and marginalised.

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With their pale skin, light or colorless hair, and light-sensitive eyes, they attract attention simply for what they look like. Yet albinism is not just a cosmetic variation—it is a genetic condition with significant health, psychological, and social dimensions. With International Albinism Awareness Day observed on June 13, it is vital to move beyond superfluous sympathy and engage with the deeper realities that people with albinism face in India.

What is albinism?

Albinism is a non-contagious, rare inherited genetic condition characterised by the partial or complete absence of melanin—the pigment that determines the colour of the skin, hair, and eyes. The most common types include:Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA): This affects the skin, hair, and eyes, with seven known subtypes (OCA1 to OCA7).

Ocular Albinism (OA): This primarily affects the eyes, with minimal or no changes in skin or hair colour. It is usually X-linked (carried on the X-chromosome) and occurs more commonly in males as they have one X-chromosome and one Y-chromosome. This allows the trait to be freely expressed in the affected individual, in the absence of a second X-chromosome.Globally, the prevalence of albinism ranges from one in 20,000 to one in 40,000 people. In Africa, certain populations exhibit much higher rates of prevalence—up to one in 1,000. India lacks comprehensive epidemiological data, but experts estimate that there may be around 1,00,000 people with albinism in the country—however, much of their information remains undocumented. The biology behind albinism