Pennsylvania Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by an absence of color in hair, skin, or eyes due to lack of melanin?

1. Albinism

2. Vitiligo

3. Hyperpigmentation

4. Melasma

The correct answer is: Albinism

Albinism is a genetic condition that results in a significant reduction or complete absence of melanin, the pigment responsible for giving color to the skin, hair, and eyes. Individuals with albinism typically have very light or white hair, pale skin, and light-colored or even red eyes due to the lack of pigment. This absence of melanin can lead to a variety of issues, including increased sensitivity to sunlight, vision problems, and susceptibility to skin cancers because melanin provides some protection against UV radiation. In contrast, vitiligo is a condition that results in patches of skin losing their pigment due to the destruction of melanocytes, but it does not cause a uniform absence of color throughout a person's hair, skin, or eyes. Hyperpigmentation is characterized by darkened areas of skin due to excess melanin, while melasma is a specific type of hyperpigmentation often associated with hormonal changes, and neither of these conditions involves a lack of pigment. Thus, albinism is the only condition on the list that specifically pertains to the absence of color in hair, skin, or eyes due to a lack of melanin.