A group of diseases caused by an abnormal accumulation of porphyrins in the body. Porphyrins are used to make hemoglobin, the molecule in the red blood cell that carries oxygen throughout the body. Porphyria affects the nervous system and skin and is inherited. The nervous system type is called acute porphyria and the skin type is cutaneous porphyria. There is no cure for the disease but the symptoms can be controlled. Symptoms can be triggered by exposure to certain medications, excessive dieting, sun exposure, smoking, infections, drinking alcohol or hormones. If left untreated the disease can be very serious causing breathing problems, kidney failure, skin damage and liver problems.