At least eight different types of porphyria have been found, that differ considerably from each other. The types are:

PP Plumboporphyria (aka ALA-D) AIP Acute Intermittent Porphyria CEP Congenital Erythropietic Porphyria PCT Porphyria Cutanea Tarda HEP Hepatoerythropoietic Porphyria HCP Hereditary Coproporphyria VP Variegate Porphyria EPP Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Most of these porphyrias are inherited, whereas some can be acquired.
What they all have in common, is the accumulation in the body of "porphyrins" or "porphyrin precursors". Although these are normal body chemicals, they normally do not accumulate.
Precisely which one of these chemicals builds up depends upon the type of porphyria. Clinical manifestations of the different types of porphyria are not the same, and forms of treatment also depend on the type of porphyria.

To put it all even more scientifically:

ANOMALIES IN PIGMENT METABOLISM:
ERYTHROPOIETIC PROTOPORPHYRIA (EPP)

EPP is associated with decreased activity of ferrochelatase and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Biochemically, this defect results in massive accumulations of protoporphyrin in erythrocytes, plasma, and feces. Clinically, the disease is characterized by the childhood onset of cutaneous photosensitivity in light-exposed areas, but skin lesions are milder and less disfiguring than those seen in CEP, PCT, HEP, and VP. (Taken from the Merck Manual)

Other porphyrias

Porphyria clubs

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