Two cases of burns in children from French Guinea with oculocutaneous albinism.

Oculocutaneous albinism is an autosomal recessive disorder. It is associated with a disorder in the synthesis of melanin pigment, clearly manifested by the absence of colour in the skin, iris, and hair. In addition to its importance for a person's physical appearance, melanin plays a protective role with regard to solar radiation: its absence exposes the skin to a greater risk of related photogenic injury. The two young patients reported, suffering from oculocutaneous albinism, developed first- and second-degree superficial burns after a few hours of exposure to the sun.