The sun is something we all take for granted; a great fiery star 92,960,000 miles up in space, that is there every day, waiting to greet us. We expect it to rise and set at a certain time and we don't think about it much anymore. What if you can't go out in the sun? What if your flesh burned in the light and retreated you into the darkness of your locked home? This is how children who suffer from the hereditary disease Xeroderma Pigmentosum, otherwise known as XP, live. It is a rare disease that causes extreme levels of sensitivity to UV rays. Human skin is normally able to repair skin damage, but children living with XP cannot. It affects one in a million births in the United States and Europe, but is most commonly found in Japan, North Africa and the Middle East. Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a difficult disease to live with and puts a strain on the life of the patient and the family members around him, but with understanding of the symptoms, adjustments to daily life, correct treatments and prognosis it is manageable.XP has a multitude of signs and symptoms to watch out for, most of which appear in childhood. One of the first signs is the early appearance of freckles on the skin of the face, arms or lips. It usually appears before the age of two. The face also has spider-like blood vessels showing through the skin, which is extremely thin. Covering patches of discoloration may also be seen, along with crusting, scaling, and oozing (“Xeroderma Pigmentosum.” The New). The most important signs to watch out for are photophobia, discomfort with light, and extreme sunburn after only brief moments in the sun (Hartree). Some children even experience hearing loss and loss of previously acquired skills such as walking or speaking (XP). There are also difficulties... middle of the paper... and the parents of the patients have an understanding of all the parts that follow XP, life is livable. Although they do not live long, if treated properly, the symptoms are under control and they know the possibilities; It is possible to live with Xeroderma pigmentosum day after day. Works Cited "Erythema". Mosby's Medical Dictionary. 9th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier, 2013. 641. Print.Hartree, Naomi. "Xeroderma pigmentosum." Patient.co.uk. March 18, 2011 Web. April 17, 2014. XP Family Support Group. nd Web. 24 April 2014. “Xeroderma pigmentosum.” Cancer.net. 2012. Network. 17 April 2014. "Xeroderma pigmentosum". DermNet New Zealand. 2002. Network. 17 April 2014. "Xeroderma pigmentosum". Genetics Home Reference. United States National Library of Medicine. April 7, 2014. Web. April 15, 2014. "Xeroderma pigmentosum." NCBI. June 20, 2003. Web. April 17, 2014. "Xeroderma pigmentosum." New York Times. May 15, 2013. Web. April 16. 2014.