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Living with Self-healing collodion baby

A mild form of an inherited skin condition in which a baby is born in a tight, shiny membrane that heals in the first weeks.

Understanding Self-healing collodion baby

Self-healing collodion baby is a mild variant of a type of inherited ichthyosis (scaly skin) present from birth.

Babies are born with a collodion membrane (a tight, shiny covering over the skin). It heals within the first weeks of life.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Collodion membrane at birth
  • Scaly skin (ichthyosis)
  • Limited joint movement

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. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  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
Is genetic testing available to confirm the type?
How should my baby's skin be cared for in the first weeks?
Will any skin problems remain after the membrane heals?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of a gene from each parent. GARD does not name a gene.

GeneticSkin

Also known as: self-improving collodion baby; self-improving congenital ichthyosis; shcb; sici

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Self-healing collodion babyGARD ID 17303 · 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 Self-healing collodion baby.

Explore the Self-healing collodion baby blog

Explore research for Self-healing collodion baby

Explore actively recruiting Self-healing collodion baby studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Self-healing collodion baby 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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