What is xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)?
Xeroderma pigmentosum (pronounced: zer-oder- ma/pig-men-toe-sum), XP, is a very rare inherited disease that causes extreme sensitivity to the suns ultraviolet rays. Unless patients with XP are protected from sunlight, their skin and eyes may be severely damaged. This damage may lead to cancers of the skin and eye. XP has been identified in people of every ethnic group all over the world. Return to top What are the signs of XP? Many persons with XP will get an unusually severe sunburn after a short sun exposure. The sunburn will last much longer than expected, perhaps for several weeks. This type of sunburn will usually occur during a childs first sun exposure, and it may be a clue to the diagnosis of XP. However, some people with XP will not get a sunburn more easily than others, and the disease will be undetected until unusual skin changes appear over time. Most patients with XP will develop many freckles at an early age. Continued sun exposure will lead to further changes in the skin
