Xeroderma Pigmentosum
Xeroderma pigmentosum, (XP) is what it is commonly known as, is a rare condition which is inherited from their parents, this disease causes extreme sensitivity to Ultraviolet Rays (UV). The most common area that effects will show is around the eyes. Some people that have this condition also will have problems in the nervous system.
The signs that point to you having xeroderma pigmentosum generally appear when you are a baby or at a young age. Children can suffer from sever sunburns after just a few minutes in the sun. The effects of the sunburn will cause severe blistering and redness that will last for weeks. Some of the kids get lucky and instead of the severe burns the just get a tan instead. At the younger age of 4 years old kids will most likely get freckles that cover any exposed areas, other than kids with this disease it is a rarity. In most people that are effect, being exposed to the sunlight to often can cause dry skin (xeroderma) and can change the coloring in skin (pigmentation). These 2 main effects that the disease causes is how (XP) got its name.
People that are affected with this disease have much higher chances of getting skin cancer. If kids with this disease don’t have any sun protection, by the age of 10 years old most of them will have their first skin cancer. Most people with this condition will develop multiple types of skin cancers during the period of their life. Most of the time the cancer will effect the face, lips, and eye lids. Cancer can also can occur on the top of the head, inside the eyes, and on the tongue. People with xeroderma pigmentosum also have a greater risk of of getting other types of cancer, including brain tumors studies have shown. Affected individuals who smoke cigarettes increase the risk exponentially.
People that have xeroderma pigmentosum eyes can be painfully sensitive to Ultraviolet Rays. If the eyes are not concealed from direct sunlight, they may become blood shot or irritated, and...