Is there a cure for XP?
There isn’t a cure for XP, but its symptoms can be managed. Staying out of the sun and avoiding other UV light sources is crucial. This means slathering up with sunscreen and covering up completely whenever going out of doors.
Is xeroderma pigmentosum a skin cancer?
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a hereditary condition characterized by extreme sun sensitivity, leading to a very high risk of skin cancer and other medical problems.
Is xeroderma pigmentosum fatal?
Many patients with xeroderma pigmentosum die at an early age from skin cancers. However, if a person is diagnosed early, does not have severe neurological symptoms or has a mild variant, and takes all the precautionary measures to avoid exposure to UV light, they may survive beyond middle age.
What are some symptoms of xeroderma pigmentosum?
Symptoms
- Sunburn that does not heal after just a little bit of sun exposure.
- Blistering after just a little bit of sun exposure.
- Spider-like blood vessels under the skin.
- Patches of discolored skin that get worse, resembling severe aging.
- Crusting of the skin.
- Scaling of the skin.
- Oozing raw skin surface.
Where is xeroderma pigmentosum most commonly found?
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare disorder; it is estimated to affect about 1 in 1 million people in the United States and Europe. The condition is more common in Japan, North Africa, and the Middle East.
What happens if someone with XP goes in the sun?
Those affected with the autosomal recessive disorder XP are extremely sensitive to UV light produced by the sun and develop pigmented spots, tumors, and skin cancer with minimal exposure. Individuals with XP are about 1,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than individuals without the disorder.
Who is most likely to get xeroderma pigmentosum?
What is the life expectancy of someone with xeroderma pigmentosum?
However, the life expectancy is shortened for many individuals with XPC due to the dramatically increased risk for cancers. The average life expectancy of an individual with any type of XP and no neurological features is approximately 37 years (29 years if neurological features are present).
What is the XP disease?
People who have an extreme sensitivity to sunlight are born with a rare disease known as xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). They must take extreme measures to protect their skin from ultraviolet (UV) light. Anything that emits UV light, including the sun and some lightbulbs, can damage their skin.
Why is xeroderma pigmentosum more common in Japan?
XP patients have sun sensitivity, a 10,000-fold increased risk of skin cancer and defective DNA repair [4]. The frequency of XP in Japan is about 1:22,000 [5;6], which is much more common than in the US and Europe (about 1 per million) [2;6]. There are 8 XP DNA repair genes (XPA to XPG and XP variant).
How do you test for xeroderma pigmentosum?
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is diagnosed based on the symptoms and clinical exam and may be confirmed by the results of genetic testing . Specialized testing may be done on skin cells to check for sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation .
Is there more than one kind of xeroderma pigmentosum?
There are 8 different genetic types of Xeroderma Pigmentosum depending on the affected gene: XPA, XPB (or ERCC3), XPC, XPD (or ERCC2), XPE (or DDB2), XPF (or ERCC4), XPG (ERCC5) and XPV (or POLH)10, each one of them affecting different mechanisms of DNA repair (making them more severe or not) in the protection of the …