Evaluation of the Role of Chemical Peel in the Treatment of Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by heightened sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation due to a deficiency in the endonuclease enzyme responsible for DNA repair. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the role of chemical peels in clearing the skin background in patients with XP and reducing the rate of new lesion development. Patients and Methods: This study included 14 patients with XP, consisting of 9 males and 5 females, who underwent facial chemical peels using 30% trichloroacetic acid. The study was conducted between March 2011 and May 2012 at Al-Jamhouri Teaching Hospital in Mosul. Evaluation of results was performed by two plastic surgeons and patient satisfaction. Results: All patients underwent trichloroacetic acid peeling of the entire face, with the number of sessions varying. Specifically, one patient received 3 sessions, another patient received 4 sessions, and one patient received 6 sessions. Eight patients underwent 5 sessions, and three patients received 7 sessions of chemical peels. Patient and parent satisfaction was assessed, with 7 patients reporting high satisfaction and 7 patients indicating moderate satisfaction. Evaluation by two plastic surgeons revealed good results in 5 patients, moderate results in 7 patients, and poor results in 2 patients. Conclusion: Chemical peels offer a simple, well-tolerated procedure that effectively clears skin background changes and eliminates subclinical premalignant lesions, as diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). This procedure exhibits a prophylactic effect in XP patients and yields positive outcomes with minimal complications.