Editing Human skin color (section)

=== Depigmentation ===
{{Main|Depigmentation}}

==== Albinism ====
Some types of [[Albinism in humans|albinism]] affect only the skin and hair, while other types affect the skin, hair and eyes, and in rare cases only the eyes. All of them are caused by different genetic mutations. Albinism is a recessively inherited trait in humans where both pigmented parents may be carriers of the gene and pass it down to their children. Each child has a 25% chance of being albino and a 75% chance of having normally pigmented skin.<ref>Cummings (2011). ''Human Heridity Principles and Issues''. Cengage 9th edition. Retrieved 2014-02-16.</ref> One common type of albinism is oculocutaneous albinism or OCA, which has many subtypes caused by different genetic mutations.
Albinism is a serious problem in areas of high sunlight intensity, leading to extreme sun sensitivity, [[skin cancer]], and eye damage.<ref name="LivCol" />

Albinism is more common in some parts of the world than in others, but it is estimated that 1 in 70 humans carry the gene for OCA.
The most severe type of albinism is OCA1A, which is characterized by complete, lifelong loss of melanin production, other forms of OCA1B, OCA2, OCA3, OCA4, show some form of melanin accumulation and are less severe.<ref name=LivCol /> The four known types of ''OCA'' are caused by mutations in the ''TYR'', ''OCA2'', ''[[TYRP1]]'', and ''SLC45A2'' genes.<ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov" />

Albinos often face social and cultural challenges (even threats), as the condition is often a source of ridicule, racism, fear, and violence. Many cultures around the world have developed beliefs regarding people with albinism. [[Persecution of people with albinism|Albinos are persecuted]] in Tanzania by [[witchdoctor]]s, who use the body parts of albinos as ingredients in rituals and potions, as they are thought to possess magical power.<ref>BBC (27 July 2008). "Tanzania Albinos Targeted Again". BBC News (online edition). Retrieved 2010-01-03.</ref>

==== Vitiligo ====
[[File:P. Sathasivam.jpg|thumb|200px|Former [[Chief Justice of India]], [[P. Sathasivam]], has vitiligo.]]
[[Vitiligo]] is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanocytes die or are unable to function. The causes of vitiligo are not clear, but research suggests several possibilities, including [[autoimmunity|autoimmune reactions]], [[genetic variation|genetic make-up]], [[oxidative stress]], and neural or viral causes.<ref name="halder">{{cite journal |last1=Halder |first1=RM |last2=Chappell |first2=JL |title=Vitiligo update |journal=Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=86–92 |year=2009 |pmid=19608058 |doi=10.1016/j.sder.2009.04.008|doi-broken-date=19 January 2025 }}</ref> The incidence worldwide is less than 1%.<ref name=pmid7977362>{{cite journal |title=Genetic epidemiology of vitiligo: multilocus recessivity cross-validated |journal=American Journal of Human Genetics |volume=55 |issue=5 |pages=981–90 |year=1994 |pmid=7977362 |pmc=1918341 |last1=Nath |first1=S. K. |last2=Majumder |first2=P. P. |last3=Nordlund |first3=J. J.}}</ref> Individuals affected by vitiligo sometimes suffer psychological discomfort because of their appearance.<ref name=LivCol />