Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a chronic, rare genetic disease observed in children, where the skin has a tendency to form blisters. EB is understood to be a connective tissue disorder, where some bonding proteins lead to inflammatory changes on the skin, forming blisters. One of the major complications of this disease is cancer of the skin.

Photograph of a child with Epidermolysis Bullosa showing Blisters on the skin

This condition begins soon at birth or a few days after birth. These children are referred to as Butterfly’s wings or cotton wool babies due to their specific skin appearance.

It mainly involves the skin and the mucous membrane. Skin becomes very sensitive and delicate. Due to the brittleness of skin, such children are often called Cotton Wool babies. About one in 50000 children get affected with this disease

All types of EB are genetic (inherited). Having a family history of the disease and specially having parents with it, is a risk factor for the disease. As said earlier, it is a connective tissue disorder, governed by genetic factors.

The distribution of the blisters is generalized but the extremities are most frequently affected, the flexor sites being involved.