Absence of melanocytes makes sunscreen indispensable for patients with albinism, who are otherwise left vulnerable to skin cancers.
Published Sep 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: The WHO recognises sunscreen as a life-saving medicine for people with albinism, highly vulnerable to UV-induced skin cancer. In India, experts urge free sunscreen, awareness campaigns, and equitable healthcare to combat stigma and health risks. Dr. Satendra Singh calls it a human rights milestone, emphasizing climate justice and the need for accessible, high-SPF sunscreens to protect this marginalized group.
Sunscreen is no longer just a cosmetic product, for people with albinism, it is now recognised as a vital, life-saving medical intervention, thanks to a landmark decision by the World Health Organization.
Albinism, a rare genetic condition that reduces melanin production, makes individuals highly vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, significantly increasing their risk of skin damage and preventable skin cancer.
In India, around two lakh people with albinism face daily exposure to the sun, alongside social stigma and discrimination. Experts urge the government to provide free or affordable sunscreen, run awareness campaigns, and ensure access to health and educational support, translating the WHO’s recognition into practical protection.
The World Health Organization has specified that therapeutic broad-spectrum sunscreens should contain proven active ingredients capable of absorbing or filtering UVA and UVB radiation and must have a high sun protection factor (SPF).
Recognising sunscreens and moisturisers as essential medicines is expected to improve the quality of life, particularly for people with chronic or lifelong conditions who are highly vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
People with albinism face disproportionately high rates of skin damage, disfigurement, and preventable skin cancer due to UV exposure. In addition, they are often subjected to social stigma and discrimination, including mockery and prejudiced nicknames, which further exacerbate the challenges they face in daily life.
Globally, the 2023 report from the United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights for Persons with Albinism reaffirmed that sunscreen should be treated as an essential health product rather than a cosmetic.
The WHO’s Essential Medicines List defines such medicines as those satisfying priority healthcare needs, based on prevalence, public health relevance, efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and intended to be consistently available at appropriate doses and affordable prices.
The list also serves as a guide for countries to develop national essential medicines lists to improve access and support rational prescribing practices.
Welcoming WHO’s recognition of sunscreen as an essential medicine, Dr Satendra Singh, medical doctor and disability rights advocate, highlighted that this step is both a “medical and human rights milestone”.
Dr Singh also pointed out the heightened risks in regions with strong UV exposure, where individuals often lack access to affordable sun protection, and stressed that social stigma and discrimination further compound their challenges.
Building on these concerns, Dr Singh formally detailed his recommendations and rationale in a letter to the WHO Expert Committee, outlining why sunscreen must be treated as an essential health product.
Building on the WHO’s recognition, Dr Satendra Singh, a medical doctor and disability rights advocate, wrote to the WHO Expert Committee, “The adoption of this critical decision is not only a matter of public health, it is a climate justice and human rights imperative.” He added, “Sunscreen is far more than a cosmetic product. It is a vital, life-saving medical intervention.”
He urged the Committee, “Including sunscreen in the WHO Essential Medicines List would mark a historic and science-based step forward, affirming the Committee’s commitment to inclusive, equitable, and rights-based global health policy.”
He said that this decision “would also signal leadership in addressing the intersections of disability, climate vulnerability, and access to care.”
Dr Singh further echoed the 2023 UN report on the human rights of persons with albinism, stating, “The failure to provide equitable access to sunscreen is a manifestation of systemic health inequity affecting marginalized populations.”
He added that the Committee has the opportunity to “protect lives, advance health equity, and uphold the rights and dignity of people with albinism and other vulnerable groups worldwide.”
“There is a cell type which carries pigment and is known as melanocytes. These melanocytes are protective against cancer caused by UV radiation. When melanocytes are absent, the disease is called albinism,” said Dr KR Sharmatha, Senior Consultant, Dermatology at SIMS Hospital, Chennai.
She explained that the absence of this natural protection makes sunscreen indispensable for patients with albinism, who are otherwise left vulnerable to skin cancers.
She added that protection must go beyond sunscreen. “They have to protect themselves from all sorts of environmental pollution as well as UV light,” she said, suggesting sunglasses and broad-rimmed hats. These are necessary, she explained, because ultraviolet radiation affects not just the skin but also the eyes.
“In a country like India or any other country, there is adequate UV radiation which can cause cancer. And it is in fact more so in countries like Australia and New Zealand where there is no ozone layer. So it is very important that patients with albinism follow strict sun protection,” she emphasized.
On sunscreen standards, she underlined that only certain formulations are truly effective.
“An SPF above 50 is essential because once you attain SPF 50 or above, it means you are protected against 95 percent of these harsh rays,” she explained.
She also recommended products that combine both physical and chemical barriers, and highlighted the need for long-lasting, waterproof formulations in India’s hot, humid conditions where sweating is common.
Dr Sharmatha also reflected on the challenges in dermatological care for albinism in India. “The psychosocial impact of albinism is very high since the treatment is less and the visibility of the disease is very prominent,” she said, noting the double burden of medical risks and social discrimination.
She added that while albinism is often complicated by genetic and congenital issues, patients are also far more prone to skin cancers.
On possible government support, she was clear about the benefits. “Only patients with albinism will require it. The rest of the Indian skin type is quite dark and protective by itself. But definitely albinism patients will greatly benefit from free sunscreen,” she concluded.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
