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Xeroderma pigmentosa

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

Children with this condition require total protection from sunlight. Even the light coming through window s and fluorescent bulbs is dangerous.

When the person must go in the sun, protective clothing should be worn.

High protection (SPF 30 or greater) sunscreen and very dark, UV-protected glasses should be worn. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help prevent certain skin cancers.

Support Groups:

Xeroderma Pigmentosum Society -- www.xps.org

Expectations (prognosis):

Most persons with this condition die of skin cancer early in adulthood.

Complications:

• Change in appearance of skin (disfigurement)
• Skin cancer

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms of xeroderma pigmentosa.

References:

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology . 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.

Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease . 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005.

• Review Date: 4/12/2007
• Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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