Protective Tips For People Living With Albinism: What To Do and What To Avoid

The Publicity Relations Officer, Lagos State Chapter of the Albino Foundation, Otti Danmanplus, shared protective for albinos at an awareness programme themed ‘Albinism and the society’, organised by the foundation, in conjunction with the Onome, Akinlolu and Majaro Foundation, in Ikeja, Lagos.

He expressed concern that persons living with albinism have increased cases of goitre, (Goitre is described as a condition in which the thyroid gland, located in the neck, becomes enlarged due to iodine deficiency in the diet), and other symptoms of iodine deficiency and that it is growing at an alarming rate.

“You have probably heard people say that we don’t eat salt. I want this myth to be addressed because many people are suffering from goitre and iodine deficiency because some parents have refused to add dietary salt to the foods given to their children living with albinism. Dietary salt is the human body’s source of iodine, which in turn helps the thyroid to function properly. However, when people believe the myth about the negative effect of salt on albinos and they don’t eat it, they suffer diseases and conditions that are related to iodine deficiency, such as goitre. The sun is what you should avoid. But, if you avoid salt and go out in the sun, you can get goitre and become exposed to skin cancer.” Danmanplus Said.

PunchNg covered the event as it was also reported that consultant physician and dermatologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Funmilayo Ajose, in her lecture, advised albinos to avoid bathing with soap that contains lime and lemon because they make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Thus, they make albinos more prone to skin cancer than ever.

“A lot of cosmetic manufacturing industries are now adding lime and lemon to their soaps and toothpaste. They call them herbal soap and herbal toothpaste, whereas they have only added lime. Lime is a very potent photo-sensitiser, which is something that makes you feel the heat from the sun more than usual. So, if you are using any soap, make sure that it does not contain lime and lemon. Do not use a moisturiser that contains either lime or lemon because it will make your skin more sensitive to sunlight,” Ajose told a cross-section of albinos on Tuesday.

She also advised the albinos to wear more of black than white because black absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Staying that when they wear anything black, the sun cannot penetrate their skin. But white is not advisable because white reflects light. If they go into the sun with a white shirt, the ultraviolet radiation will reflect on their face. She also noted that, despite the fact that albinos had been told to avoid it, the sun remained an important source of Vitamin D and a strong anti-cancer agent.