This article presents a case series of albino patients who underwent reconstruction in our department mainly for malignancies. We describe the postoperative course of the patients with an emphasis on the HPE examination of the skin which showed the changes of photo damage. Albinism is a inherited group of disorders characterized by abnormal melanin synthesis. We look at the role of melanin, melanocytes in wound healing and their role in the final outcome of these patients. A simple single staged procedure is ideal for these patients as their postoperative course is unpredictable even though it may not satisfy all the requirements of these patients.

Keywords: Albinism, Solar elastosis, melanocytes, melanin.

1. Indian J Plast 2012 May-Aug; 45(2): 403–411.
2. Gao FL, Jin R, Zhang L, Zhang The contribution of melanocytes to pathological scar formation during wound healing. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2013; 6(7):609–613. Published 2013 Aug 1.
3. Almine JF, Wise SG, Weiss Elastin signaling in wound repair. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2012 Sep; 96(3): 248-57. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21016.
4. Halim AS, Emami A, Salahshourifar I, Kannan TP. Keloid scarring: understanding the genetic basis, advances, and prospects. Arch Plast Surg. 2012; 39(3): 184–189. doi: 10.5999/aps.2012.39.3.184
5. Lo DD, Zimmermann AS, Nauta A, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Scarless fetal skinwound healing update. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2012 Sep; 96(3): 237-47. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21018. Review.  PubMed PMID: 23109319

Dr K. Raja

Senior Assistant Prof, Dept. of Plastic Surgery, Madurai Medical College