Living with Adermatoglyphia
A condition in which the ridges that form fingerprints are missing from the fingers, palms, toes, and soles.
Understanding Adermatoglyphia
Without these ridges, a person has no fingerprints. In some families there are no other signs. In others, it comes with skin features such as small white bumps (milia) on the face, blistering in areas exposed to heat or friction, and fewer sweat glands on the hands and feet. It can also be a feature of some ectodermal dysplasias, which affect the skin, hair, sweat glands, and teeth.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary says the main feature is missing fingerprint ridges.
- No fingerprint ridges
- Small white bumps on the face (milia)
- Blistering with heat or friction
- Fewer sweat glands on the hands and feet
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.
- 3Consider genetic testing
Changes in SMARCAD1 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- 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 Children's Skin Disease Foundation
- 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
Quick facts
Changes in the SMARCAD1 gene cause this condition. It is autosomal dominant, so a changed copy of the gene from one parent can be enough.
Also known as: aderm; congenital absence of fingerprints; fingerprints, absence of; immigration delay disease; isolated congenital adermatoglyphia
Patient organizations
- Children's Skin Disease FoundationSkin diseases · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Adermatoglyphia.
Explore research for Adermatoglyphia
Explore actively recruiting Adermatoglyphia studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Adermatoglyphia with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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