What does someone with XP look like?

UV light, such as from sunlight, damages the genetic material (DNA) in skin cells. Normally, the body repairs this damage. But in people with XP, the body does not fix the damage. As a result, the skin gets very thin and patches of varying color (splotchy pigmentation) appear.

Can people with XP ever go in the sun?

Anything that emits UV light, including the sun and some lightbulbs, can damage their skin. When people with XP go outdoors during daylight, they need to cover up. Dermatologists recommend that they wear clothing which offers maximum protection from UV light.

How long can you live with xeroderma pigmentosum?

Prognosis. The average life expectancy of an individual with any type of XP and no neurological symptoms is approximately 37 years, and 29 years if neurological symptoms are present.

Is XP painful?

The eyes of people with xeroderma pigmentosum may be painfully sensitive to UV rays from the sun. If the eyes are not protected from the sun, they may become bloodshot and irritated, and the clear front covering of the eyes (the cornea ) may become cloudy.

Is Midnight Sun true story?

It’s a fascinating concept, but no, Midnight Sun is not a true story; in actuality, it’s a fictional tale that’s a remake of a foreign film. The original movie was a 2006 Japanese romantic drama called Taiyō no uta, or Song to the Sun.

How old is the oldest person with XP?

Survival beyond the third decade of life is unusual. The authors present a 46-year-old patient with proven xeroderma pigmentosum who manifests many characteristic features of this affliction and may be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living survivor of this unusual disease.

Does XP affect the brain?

Approximately 30% of XP patients present neurologic alterations, which may appear early in infancy or later in the second or third decade of life. They range from mild to severe, with intellectual disability, deafness, spasticity, and seizures [23].

Are you born with XP?

XP is a genetic condition that people are born with. This means that the risk of XP can be passed from generation to generation in a family. Mutations (alterations) in at least 8 different genes are known to play a role in XP.

Is there a cure for xeroderma pigmentosum?

Xeroderma pigmentosum treatment 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.

How rare is XP?

XP is considered to be very rare. It is estimated that 1 in 1 million people in the United States may have XP. XP appears to be somewhat more common in Japan, North Africa, and the Middle East.