Human bodies are complicated and for some, the struggle is beyond imagination. Andrea Ivonne Monroy is a woman who has to spend most of her time at home. She cannot even step out to her balcony during the day to see the sunrise or feel the morning breeze.
28-year-old Andrea is forced to live like a vampire and she has been doing it for years now. She has a rare condition that makes her skin highly sensitive to sunlight.?
She suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum - a one-in-a-million condition that makes a patient's skin highly sensitive and prone to skin cancer.
A resident of California, Andrea said she has been diagnosed with skin cancer 28 times since she was a child and had early menopause from the age of 23, reported LadBible.?
"It has taken me a long time but I have accepted who I am. I've embraced my condition and I no longer feel like I am missing out,¡± she said. She added that her condition makes her body grow old faster.?
The symptoms of Xeroderma pigmentosum include severe sunburn, dry skin, and changes in skin pigmentation. It can also lead to hearing loss, poor condition, loss of intellectual function seizure, and cataracts.
The ones suffering from this rare condition have an average life expectancy of just 37. However, Andrea is optimistic about her future and takes all necessary precautions to reduce risks. But she still has to spend most of her time at home and only go out at night. She has to keep a check on the UV and carry a solar metre all the time.?
"I only ever go out in the day if I have a doctor's appointment and I must wear protective clothing. Even if it is cloudy or raining, I have to wear long sleeves, hats, and a face shield,¡± she said.
Her most recent cancer diagnosis came in October 2020. Before that, she has undergone several surgeries to remove skin cancer.