Skin covers your entire body and often gives people a sense a who they are. Healthy skin helps you feel radiant and alive. Unhealthy skin conditions like acne or eczema, however, can make you feel like you are not a whole person and make you want to hide. Sometimes your skin can be subject to rare or uncommon diseases. Peeling skin syndrome is one such disease.

Peeling skin syndrome, also called familial continuous skin peeling, skin peeling syndrome or deciduous skin, is a rare hereditary skin disorder that is characterized by spontaneous exfoliation or peeling of the skin with painful redness. Peeling skin syndrome can include red dots or blisters and can coincide with Netherton syndrome, with typical onset at birth, although sometimes the syndrome occurs in adults. There are two types of peeling skin syndrome including non-inflammatory type A and inflammatory type B.

Symptoms

The symptoms of peeling skin syndrome include aminoaciduria, dry skin, abnormal blistering of the skin, Cafe-au-lait spot, abnormality of metabolism or homeostasis, brittle hair, asthma, short stature, hyperhidrosis, erythema, congenital onset, increased IgE levels, pruritus and autosomal recessive inheritance. Sometimes symptoms do appear in adulthood, but typically they occur shortly after birth or during infancy.

Frequency and severity varies depending on the patient. Sometimes the frequency of symptoms information is not available for patients, which makes evaluating the condition difficult. However, the most common symptoms of peeling skin syndrome are dry skin, aminoaciduria and abnormal blistering of the skin.

Causes or Signs

Peeling skin syndrome has several causes. The syndrome is primarily a congenital ichthyosis. These ichthyoses represent a group of dermatological disorders that are typified by thickened or dry, scaly skin throughout the majority of the body. The general form of peeling skin syndrome is classified into two types: a non-inflammatory type (A) and an inflammatory type (B).

The condition is present in the arms and legs or acral extremities and is called acral peeling syndrome. The majority of these patients develop blisters and erosions on their feet or hands during infancy or following birth. The syndrome is caused by the corneodesmosin gene, also called the CDSN gene. Primarily this peeling skin syndrome is caused by genetic mutations. The syndrome impacts males and females equally, and about 100 cases have been reported.  

What to Do If You Think Have Peeling Skin Syndrome

The first thing that you can do is find a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a specialist who studies skin conditions. This doctor can assess your condition and make determinations about what types of treatments are appropriate for your specific situation. Each patient usually presents symptoms in a different way, so seeing a medical professional in person is the first step in the evaluation process. Your dermatologist can also help you understand how to handle the condition.

There is no cure for peeling skin syndrome at this point. Your dermatologist will know what is right for what is going on with you, but some common treatments include petroleum jelly, topical ointments and other Keratolytic agents, which are designed to hasten the skin-shedding process. As more research is conducted, additional treatments are tested for this condition. Rely on the advice of your doctor to suggest the best therapy.

Protecting your skin is important to safeguarding your overall physical and psychological health. Skin is an essential part of your body and affects your overall self-image. Although this syndrome is uncommon, understanding how to evaluate the potential for having the disease and getting appropriate treatment offer self-esteem improvements for individuals affected by the condition.

About Author

Kacey Mya is a lifestyle blogger for “The Drifter Collective.” Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, continuously building her strong love for style while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.