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Living with Acral self-healing collodion baby

A skin condition in which a baby is born with a thin, tight membrane on the hands and feet only.

Understanding Acral self-healing collodion baby

Acral self-healing collodion baby is a type of self-healing collodion baby with a membrane only on the hands and feet at birth.

At birth, a thin, tight membrane (collodion membrane) covers only the extremities. The skin on the palms and soles may scale. GARD lists onset as the newborn and infant period.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Collodion membrane on hands and feet at birth
  • Swelling on the top of the hands and feet
  • Redness of the skin
  • Scaling of palms and soles
  • Tight, less elastic skin

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include eye disease specialists, genetic specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in TGM1 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
What skin care does my baby need?
How long does the membrane usually last?
What does TGM1 genetic testing mean for our family?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesTGM1

Changes in the TGM1 gene cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticSkin

Also known as: acral shcb

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Acral self-healing collodion babyGARD ID 21108 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Acral self-healing collodion baby.

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