xeroderma

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xeroderma (zeer-oh-der-mă) n. a mild form of the hereditary disorder ichthyosis, in which the skin develops slight dryness and forms branlike scales. It is common in the elderly. x. pigmentosum a rare genetically determined skin disorder in which there is an inherited defect in DNA repair following damage from ultraviolet radiation. This leads to multiple skin cancers.

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