Affected people develop increasing disfigurement following any intermittent exposure to sunlight. Genetic counseling is recommended for prospective parents with a family history of xeroderma pigmentosa. Children with this condition require total protection from sunlight. In addition, light coming through window glass and light from fluorescent bulbs is also dangerous. When some sunlight exposure cannot be avoided, protective clothing should cover most of the skin surface.
Most affected people die of malignancy before adulthood.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms of xeroderma pigmentosa. Xeroderma pigmentosa is a life-threatening, inherited skin disorder. Individuals are born without the ability to repair damage done to their skin cells by the ultraviolet light in sunshine. They rapidly develop skin crusting, scarring, and cancers. Affected individuals must avoid all sunlight, fluorescent light, halogen light, or any other source of ultraviolet light.