Redseal Hairstyling License Practice Test

What term refers to the absence of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes?

1. Vitiligo

2. Albinism

3. Leukoderma

4. Hypopigmentation

The correct answer is: Albinism

The term that refers to the complete absence of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes is albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition that results in the lack of melanin production due to a mutation in the genes responsible for melanin synthesis. As a result, individuals with albinism typically have very light skin, hair, and eyes, which can make them more susceptible to sun damage and vision problems. While vitiligo represents a loss of skin pigment in specific patches and leukoderma generally refers to white skin areas often caused by disease or damage, neither of these terms implies the total absence of melanin throughout the body. Hypopigmentation refers to reduced melanin production in certain areas but does not indicate a complete lack of melanin across the entire system. Thus, the most accurate term to describe this complete absence is albinism.