Collodion baby is the name given to a baby who is born encased in a skin that resembles a yellow, tight and shiny film or dried collodion (sausage skin). These babies are often premature.
The collodion membrane undergoes desquamation or peeling, which is usually complete by 2 to 3 weeks of life. This reveals the underlying skin disorder.
The collodion membrane is due to abnormal desquamation. It is due to mutation of certain genes and is usually an autosomal recessive, congenital ichthyosis (scaly skin condition). However, 10% of collodion babies have normal underlying skin – a mild presentation known as ‘self-healing’ collodion baby.
The two most common underlying diseases are:
Other rarer conditions include:
As the collodion membrane dries up it can crack leading to fissures. This affects the barrier function of the skin, leading to:
Another concern is that the membrane acts like a thick film causing physical constraints of underlying tissues. This can create problems with:
The baby is usually transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
An incubator provides a humidified, neutral temperature environment. Other supportive treatments such as intravenous fluid and tube feeding are often necessary.
The aim is to keep the skin soft and attempt to reduce scaling. The collodion membrane should not be debrided (pulled off). Treatment may include:
Management requires the expertise of a dermatologist and the paediatric team. Other specialists that may need to be involved include:
The life expectancy and difficulties that the collodion baby faces depend upon the particular underlying condition.
