Fragile Skin

What is fragile skin?

Fragile skin is a condition in which the skin and mucous membranes are much less resistant to external conditions than they normally would be. This can show up as blisters, skin erosion, and painful injury, from small lesions to severe blistering on various parts of the body. It can also lead to secondary skin cancer or even early death as a result of the loss of large portions of the epidermis (skin).

In infants and children, fragile skin can occur as part of a congenital skin fragility disorder. In older adults, it is associated with aging.

Fragile skin can be a marker for certain diseases or syndromes. This diagnosis also depends on other accompanying features.

Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.

Skin is a part of the integumentary system of the body, a system which includes not only skin but also hair and nails too. The integumentary system acts to protect our body from external threats or injury.

Generally, symptoms affecting the skin can be seen with the eye. Although diagnosing a skin-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.

Symptoms relating to the skin may be temporary or permanent and cover conditions including rashes, hives, lesions, and discoloration. They may affect the tone, texture, and appearance of the skin in different ways. They may also cause some level of discomfort, including itching and or some level of pain.

What should I do next?

In some instances, fragile skin may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Fragile Skin, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.

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