• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Subdivisions
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
  • Programs & Resources
  • Complete Report

Peeling Skin Syndrome

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Last updated: April 02, 2020
Years published: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2020


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges Gabriele Richard, MD, FACMG, Chief Medical Officer, GeneDx, for assistance in the preparation of this report


Disease Overview

Peeling skin syndrome (PSS) is a group of rare inherited skin disorders in which the normal gradual process of invisible shedding of the outermost skin layers is hastened and/or aggravated. PSS is characterized by painless, continual, spontaneous skin peeling (exfoliation) due to a separation of the outermost layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) from the underlying layers. Other findings may include blistering and/or reddening of the skin (erythema) and itching (pruritus). Symptoms may be present from birth or appear in early childhood and are often exacerbated by friction, heat or other external factors. Based on the extent of skin involvement, PSS may involve the skin of the entire body (generalized form), or is limited to the extremities, mostly hands and feet (localized form). Generalized PSS can be distinguished into an inflammatory type which is associated with erythema, involves other organ systems and is more severe, and a milder, non-inflammatory type. PSS may be caused by disease-causing variants in multiple genes encoding proteins with crucial functions for cell-cell adhesion: structural proteins forming cell-cell adhesion points (desmosomes, corneodesmosomes) and inhibitors of epidermal proteases that control skin shedding.

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Synonyms

  • deciduous skin
  • familial continuous skin peeling
  • skin peeling syndrome
  • exfoliative ichthyosis
  • PSS
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Subdivisions

  • generalized non-inflammatory type (PSS6, PSS5, PSS3)
  • generalized inflammatory type (PSS1)
  • localized (acral) type (PSS2, PSS4)
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Signs & Symptoms

Peeling skin syndrome belongs to the groups of congenital ichthyosis and skin fragility disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance. Most forms of PSS manifest at birth or during infancy with shedding or peeling of the outermost layer of the skin (horny layer, aka stratum corneum). Skin peeling occurs spontaneous, is painless, and may persist lifelong with gradual improvements. Often, affected individuals and/or their caregivers can remove sheets of skin manually, comparable to skin peeling after a severe sunburn.

Other findings associated with this disorder may include blistering and skin fragility, itching, short stature, and/or newly formed hairs that can be plucked out more easily than normal. Skin peeling is often exacerbated by mechanical irritation of the skin, heat, sweat or water exposure or other external factors.

In the localized types, individuals develop blisters and erosions on hands and feet at birth or during infancy, which is reminiscent of another blistering skin disorder, epidermolysis bullosa simplex. The generalized inflammatory types, such as SAM syndrome or Netherton syndrome may be associated with generalized inflammation of the skin (erythroderma) or localized thickened, red plaques (erythrokeratoderma), immunodysfunction with elevated IgE levels, allergies, and susceptibility to infections, failure to thrive or metabolic wasting. In some patients, these disorders may be life-threatening, especially during the newborn period. Due to the variable clinical presentations of PSS, its often mild features and gradual improvement with age, PSS may be underdiagnosed and underreported.

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Causes

To date, genetic changes in several distinct genes have been reported to cause PSS. These genes encode either structural proteins of corneocytes, the cells of the outermost skin layer (CDSN; DSG1; FLG2; DSC3; JUP) or inhibitors of epidermal proteases (SPINK5, CSTA; CAST; SERINB8), which are crucial regulators for the degradation of corneodesmosomes and shedding of corneocytes.

Generalized non-inflammatory type

FLG2: The filaggrin 2 gene (FLG2) is co-expressed with corneodesmosin (CDSN, see below) in the outermost layers of the skin, where it is cleaved into multiple small repeat units and is crucial for maintaining cell-cell adhesion. Complete or almost complete filaggrin 2 deficiency due to loss-of-function variants in FLG2 results in decreased expression of CDSN, and generalized, non-inflammatory PSS. The generalized dryness and peeling of the skin typically improves with age but can be triggered or aggravated by heat exposure, mechanical trauma to the skin and other external factors. Rarely, formation of blisters has been reported.

CAST: This gene encodes calpastatin, an endogenous protease inhibitor of calpain, which plays a role in various cell functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, mobility, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. Several homozygous loss-of-function variants in the CAST gene have been reported in association with PLACK syndrome, an autosomal recessive form of generalized peeling skin syndrome associated with leukonychia (white nails), acral punctate keratoses and knuckle pads (small, callus-like plaques of thickened skin on palms and soles and over knuckles), and angular cheilitis (inflammation on the corners of the mouth). Skin peeling manifests in infancy and improves over time, although it may worsen with heat exposure in the summer. The features may overlap with pachyonychia congenita, including oral leukokeratosis (whitish thickened plaques inside the mouth), and more diffuse plantar keratoderma.

SERPINB8: The SERPINB8 gene codes for an epidermal serine protease inhibitor, which is, similar to SPINK5 involved in Netherton syndrome, crucial for balance between cell-cell adhesion and shedding of corneocytes. Different homozygous variants in the SERPINB8 gene have been reported in three unrelated families with autosomal recessive peeling skin syndrome, with evidence of reduced protein expression and altered cell adhesion in affected skin. The affected individuals presented in infancy with peeling of the skin of varying severity, with or without erythema or hyperkeratotic plaques on the palms and soles.

CHST8: Function of the carbohydrate sulfotransferase gene CHST8 and its role in human disease have not been completely established. A homozygous missense variant in the CHST8 gene has been reported in multiple individuals with generalized non-inflammatory peeling skin syndrome from a single large consanguineous family. While initial studies suggested that the reported variant results in decreased expression and loss of function, these findings were not confirmed by functional follow-up studies, suggesting another, not yet identified, genetic cause of PSS in that family.

Generalized inflammatory type

CDSN: PSS1 is caused by deleterious loss-of-function changes in the corneodesmosin gene, CDSN. Corneodesmosin is a secreted glycoprotein and main component of cell-cell adhesion structures called corneodesmosomes within the stratum corneum and is also found in hair follicles. While complete loss of corneodesmosin due to variants on both alleles of the gene (bi-allelic) results in generalized peeling skin syndrome, abnormal corneodesmosin (due to sequence changes on only one copy of the gene) have been described in the autosomal dominant hair disorder ‘hypotrichosis simplex (MIM146520)’. In Japanese individuals, a particularly common cause of PSS1 is a genomic deletion of 6 genes including the entire CDSN gene.

DSG1: DSG1 codes for desmoglein 1, a major structural protein of desmosomal plaques and corneodesmosomes forming adhesion junctions between cells. Complete loss of desmoglein 1 due to bi-allelic pathogenic variants in DSG1 typically causes SAM syndrome, characterized by severe skin dermatitis, multiple allergies and metabolic wasting, which can be life-threatening. Nevertheless, there is a broad range of features and severity, and some DSG1 variants, especially those in the repeat unit domain, may result in a milder phenotype with features of PSS.

SPINK5: Features of generalized inflammatory peeling skin syndrome may be present in individuals with Netherton syndrome, which is caused by bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in the SPINK5 gene. NTS is characterized by a triad of erythema and peeling of the skin associated with characteristic hair shaft abnormalities (“bamboo hair’), and immunodysregulation with elevated IgE levels, atopy and allergies. SPINK5 codes for the multidomain protease inhibitor LEKTI, crucial for checking proteolytical activity of several epidermal serine proteases. Its loss leads to increased degradation of corneodesmosomes and excessive shedding of corneocytes, abnormal formation of the lipid envelope, and to a severe skin barrier dysfunction aggravated by a loss of crucial anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial protection normally provided by LEKTI.

Localized type

TGM5: The transglutaminase-5 (TGM5) gene is responsible for the acral, localized form of peeling skin syndrome. Bi-allelic disease-causing genetic variants in TGM5 result in loss of function of this important cross-linking enzyme in the upper skin layers. Acral PSS presents with superficial blistering and peeling on the inner and outer surfaces of hands and feet, sometimes resembling the blistering skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa simplex. The majority of affected individuals reported to date harbor the common missense variant p.Gly113Cys in the TGM1 gene, either in a heterozygous or homozygous state. This recurrent variant is especially common and disseminated across the European continent, and has also been observed homozygously in the general population, suggesting that acral PSS is more common and underdiagnosed due to its mild features.

CSTA: The cystatin A gene encodes a cysteine proteinase inhibitor expressed in the outermost skin layers. This enzyme is, similar to other protease inhibitors, an important player in cell-cell adhesion. Biallelic loss-of-function variants in CSTA may also cause acral peeling skin syndrome. Major features are dry, scaly skin with hyperhidrosis, erythroderma, and peeling on palms and soles aggravated by heat, friction, and water or sweat exposure.

All known forms of peeling skin syndrome are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits two abnormal copies of the disease gene, usually one from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene copy and one abnormal gene copy for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the altered gene copy and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.

All individuals are thought to be carriers for at least 4-5 abnormal recessive genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.

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Affected populations

Peeling skin syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that, in theory, affects males and females in equal numbers. More than 100 cases have been reported in the medical literature from different population groups. Peeling skin syndrome due to variants in the CHST8 and CSTA genes were reported in consanguineous Pakistani and in Bedouin families, respectively. In Japanese individuals, a particularly common deletion involving CDSN has been reported. In Europeans, acral PSS due to TMG5 variants is more common.

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Diagnosis

A good history and physical exam are often sufficient to make the diagnosis, although specialized tests including surgical removal and microscopic evaluation (biopsy) of affected tissue may be necessary at times. The continual shedding of large sheets of skin distinguishes peeling skin syndrome from Netherton syndrome and from other types of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis, such as congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. The skin of so-called “collodion babies” peels off after a few weeks and does not return, in contrast to patients with peeling skin syndrome whose symptoms return time after time.

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Standard Therapies

Treatment
Treating peeling skin syndrome by applying skin softening (emollient) ointments, especially after a bath while the skin is moist, may offer some relief. Plain petroleum jelly or Vaseline is preferred. None of the corticosteroids or systemic retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) is indicated or effective and all may have serious side effects or adverse reactions.

To discuss the risk of having children with this disorder and the possibility of genetic testing, genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families.

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Clinical Trials and Studies

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government website.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Toll free: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/living-with-a-rare-disease/find-clinical-trials/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
www.centerwatch.com

For information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

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References

TEXTBOOKS
Richard G, Ringpfeil F. Ichthyoses, erythrokeratodermas and related disorders. Chapter 57. In: Bolognia, Schaffer & Cerroni (eds). Dermatology. 4th ed., Elsevier Limited; 2017.

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Bolling MC, Jan SZ, Pasmooij AMG, Lemmink HH, Franke LH, Yenamandra VK, Sinke RJ, van den Akker PC, Jonkman MF. Generalized Ichthyotic Peeling Skin Syndrome due to FLG2 Mutations. J Invest Dermat. 2018 Aug 138(8):1881-1884. PubMed PMID: 29505760

Has C. Peeling Skin Disorders: A Paradigm for Skin Desquamation. J Invest Dermatol. 2018 Aug;138(8):1689-1691. PubMed PMID: 30032785

Mohamad J, Sarig O, Godsel LM, Peled A, Malchin N, Bochner R, Vodo D, Rabinowitz T, Pavlovsky M, Taiber S, Fried M, Eskin-Schwartz M, Assi S, Shomron N, Uitto J, Koetsier JL, Bergman R, Green KJ, Sprecher E. Filaggrin 2 Deficiency Results in Abnormal Cell-Cell Adhesion in the Cornified Cell Layers and Causes Peeling Skin Syndrome Type A. J Invest Dermat. 2018 Aug 138(8):1736-1743. PubMed PMID: 29758285

Taiber S, Samuelov L, Mohamad J, Barak EC, Sarig O, Shalev SA, Lestringant G, Sprecher E. SAM syndrome is characterized by extensive phenotypic heterogeneity. Exp Dermatology. 2018 Jul 27(7):787-790. PubMed PMID: 29604126

Alfares A, Al-Khenaizan S, Al Mutairi F. Peeling skin syndrome associated with novel variant in FLG2 gene. Am J Med Genet. Part A. 2017 Dec 173(12):3201-3204. PubMed PMID:28884927

Alkhalifah A, Chiaverini C, Del Giudice P, Supsrisunjai C, Hsu CK, Liu L, Charlesworth A, McGrath JA, Lacour JP. PLACK syndrome resulting from a new homozygous insertion mutation in CAST. J Dermatol Sci. 2017 Nov 88(2):256-258. PubMed PMID: 28851602

Choe SJ, Kim BK, Lee S, Bak H, Lee JW, Ahn SK. A Case of Late-Onset Peeling Skin Syndrome Likely Triggered by Irritation. Ann Dermatol. 2017 Feb;29(1):119-120. doi: 10.5021/ad.2017.29.1.119. Epub 2017 Feb 3. PubMed PMID: 28223764; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5318512

Fiete D, Mi Y, Beranek M, Baenziger NL, Baenziger JU. The glycan-specific sulfotransferase (R77W) GalNAc-4-ST1 putatively responsible for peeling skin syndrome has normal properties consistent with a simple sequence polymorphisim. Glycobiology. 2017 05 01 27(5):450-456. PubMed PMID: 28204496

Pigors M, Sarig O, Heinz L, Plagnol V, Fischer J, Mohamad J, Malchin N, Rajpopat S, Kharfi M, Lestringant GG, Sprecher E, Kelsell DP, Blaydon DC. Loss-of-Function Mutations in SERPINB8 Linked to Exfoliative Ichthyosis with Impaired Mechanical Stability of Intercellular Adhesions. Am J Hum Genet. 2016 Aug 4 99(2):430-436. PubMed PMID: 27476651

Teye K, Suga Y, Numata S, Soejima M, Ishii N, Krol RP, Ohata C, Matsuda M, Honma M, Ishida-Yamamoto A, Hamada T, Koda Y, Hashimoto T. A founder deletion of corneodesmosin gene is prevalent in Japanese patients with peeling skin disease: Identification of 2 new cases. J Dermatol Sci. 2016 May;82(2):134-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.01.012. Epub 2016 Jan 29. No abstract available. PMID: 26867961

Haber RM and Rose TH. Identification of a CAST Mutation in a Cohort Previously Misdiagnosed as Having Autosomal Recessive Pachyonychia Congenita. Jama Dermatology. 2015 Dec 01 151(12):1393-1394. PubMed PMID: 26650665

Has C, Jakob T, He Y, Kiritsi D, Hausser I, Bruckner-Tuderman L. Loss of desmoglein 1 associated with palmoplantar keratoderma, dermatitis and multiple allergies. Brit J Dermatol. 2015 Jan 172(1):257-61.PubMed PMID: 25041099

Lin Z, Zhao J, Nitoiu D, Scott CA, Plagnol V, Smith FJ, Wilson NJ, Cole C, Schwartz ME, McLean WH, Wang H, Feng C, Duo L, Zhou EY, Ren Y, Dai L, Chen Y, Zhang J, Xu X, O’Toole EA, Kelsell DP, Yang Y. Loss-of-function mutations in CAST cause peeling skin, leukonychia, acral punctate keratoses, cheilitis, and knuckle pads. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 Mar 5 96(3):440-7. PubMed PMID: 25683118

Muttardi K, Nitoiu D, Kelsell DP, O’Toole EA, Batta K. Acral peeling skin syndrome associated with a novel CSTA gene mutation. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016 Jun;41(4):394-8. doi: 10.1111/ced.12777. Epub 2015 Dec 18. PubMed PMID: 26684698

Krunic AL, Stone KL, Simpson MA, McGrath JA. Acral peeling skin syndrome resulting from a homozygous nonsense mutation in the CSTA gene encoding cystatin A. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013 Sep-Oct;30(5):e87-8. doi: 10.1111/pde.12092. Epub 2013 Mar 28. PubMed PMID: 23534700

Samuelov L, Sarig O, Harmon RM, Rapaport D, Ishida-Yamamoto A, Isakov O, Koetsier JL, Gat A, Goldberg I, Bergman R, Spiegel R, Eytan O, Geller S, Peleg S, Shomron N, Goh CS, Wilson NJ, Smith FJ, Pohler E, Simpson MA, McLean WH, Irvine AD, Horowitz M, McGrath JA, Green KJ, Sprecher E. Desmoglein 1 deficiency results in severe dermatitis, multiple allergies and metabolic wasting. Nat Genet. 2013 Oct 45(10):1244-8. PubMed PMID: 23974871

Cabral RM, Kurban M, Wajid M, Shimomura Y, Petukhova L, Christiano AM. Whole-exome sequencing in a single proband reveals a mutation in the CHST8 gene in autosomal recessive peeling skin syndrome. Genomics. 2012 Apr;99(4):202-8.

Chang YY, van der Velden J, van der Wier G, Kramer D, Diercks GF, van Geel M, Coenraads PJ, Zeeuwen PL, Jonkman MF. Keratolysis exfoliativa (dyshidrosis lamellosa sicca): a distinct peeling entity. Br J Dermatol. 2012 Nov;167(5):1076-84.

Telem DF, Israeli S, Sarig O, Sprecher E. Inflammatory peeling skin syndrome caused a novel mutation in CDSN. Arch Dermatol Res. 2012 Apr;304(3):251-5.
van der Velden JJ, Jonkman MF, McLean WH, Hamm H, Steijlen PM, van Steensel MA, van Geel M. A recurrent mutation in the TGM5 gene in European patients with acral peeling skin syndrome. J Dermatol Sci. 2012 Jan;65(1):74-6.

Blaydon DC, Nitoiu D, Eckl KM, Cabral RM, Bland P, Hausser I, van Heel DA, Rajpopat S, Fischer J, Oji V, Zvulunov A, Traupe H, Hennies HC, Kelsell DP. Mutations in CSTA, encoding Cystatin A, underlie exfoliative ichthyosis and reveal a role for this protease inhibitor in cell-cell adhesion. Am J Hum Genet. 2011 Oct 07 89(4):564-71. PubMed PMID: 21944047

Israeli S, Zamir H, Sarig O, Bergman R, Sprecher E. Inflammatory peeling skin syndrome caused by a mutation in CDSN encoding corneodesmosin. J Invest Dermatol. 2011 Mar;131(3):779-81.

Kiritsi D, Cosgarea I, Franzke CW, Schumann H, Oji V, Kohlhase J, Bruckner-Tuderman L, Has C. Acral peeling skin syndrome with TGM5 gene mutations may resemble epidermolysis bullosa simplex in young individuals. J Invest Dermatol. 2010 Jun;130(6):1741-6.Ayub M, Basit S, Jelani M, Ur Rehman F, Iqbal M, Yasinzai M, Ahmad W. A homozygous nonsense mutation in the human desmocollin-3 (DSC3) gene underlies hereditary hypotrichosis and recurrent skin vesicles. Am J Hum Genet. 2009 Oct 85(4):515-20. PubMed PMID: 19765682

Cassidy AJ, van Steensel MAM, Steijlen PM, et al. A homozygous missense mutation in TGM5 abolishes epidermal transglutaminase 5 activity and causes acral peeling skin syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2005;77:909-17.

Geyer AS, Ratajczak P, Pol-Rodriguez M, et al. Netherton syndrome with extensive skin peeling and failure to thrive due to a homozygous frameshift mutation in SPINK. Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland). 2005 210(4):308-14. PubMed PMID: 15942217

Levy-Nissenbaum E, Betz RC, Frydman M, Simon M, Lahat H, Bakhan T, Goldman B, Bygum A, Pierick M, Hillmer AM, Jonca N, Toribio J, Kruse R, Dewald G, Cichon S, Kubisch C, Guerrin M, Serre G, Nothen MM, Pras E. Hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp is associated with nonsense mutations in CDSN encoding corneodesmosin. Nat Genet. 2003:34(2):151–153.

Sardy M, Fay A. Karpati S, et al. Comel-Netherton syndrome and peeling skin syndrome type B: overlapping syndromes or one entity. Int J Dermatol. 2002;41:264-68.

INTERNET
McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-2 (PSS2). Entry Number; 609796: Last Edit Date; 11/04/2014. https://omim.org/entry/609796. Accessed December 29, 2019

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-1 (PSS1). Entry Number; 270300: Last Edit Date; 08/10/2018 https://omim.org/entry/270300 Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-3 (PSS3). Entry Number;616265: Last Edit Date 03/17/2015. https://omim.org/entry/616265. Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-4 (PSS4). Entry Number;607936: Last Edit Date 08/10/2018. https://omim.org/entry/607936. Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-6 (PSS6). Entry Number:618084 Last Edit Date 08/13/2018. https://omim.org/entry/618084. Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin syndrome-5 (PSS5) Entry Number:617115 Last Edit Date 09/13/2016. https://omim.org/entry/617115. Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Peeling skin in association with leukonychia, acral punctate keratoses, cheilitis, and knuckle pads (PLACK). Entry Number:616295 Last Edit Date 05/22/2015. https://omim.org/entry/616295 . Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Congenital erythroderma associated with palmoplantar keratoderma, hypotrichosis, and hyper-IgE. Entry Number: 615508 Last Edit Date 11/22/2016 https://omim.org/entry/615508 Accessed December 29, 2019.

McKusick VA, ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Netherton syndrome. Entry Number:256500 Last Edit Date 11/22/2016 https://omim.org/entry/256500 Accessed December 29, 2019.

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