Butterfly skin might sound like a cute thing to have, but the truth behind this nickname is far more delicate than lovely.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this condition, also known as Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is a genetic disorder causing skin to be fragile, prone to blistering and tearing. Symptoms are believed to range from mild to severe, with blisters forming in various parts of the body and potentially causing painful scarring, and severe cases can be fatal.
Some people are said to experience blistering on their hands and feet, while others also suffer inside their mouth or digestive tract. In more severe cases, EB can even affect the eyes and lead to complications like infections or difficulty eating, according to the above website.
The above clinic continues to claim that EB has four primary subtypes: EBS, JEB, DEB, and Kindler syndrome. EBS is stated to be the most common form, causing mild to severe blisters in the epidermis. JEB causes blisters in the mouth and airway, DEB grows in the middle layer, and Kindler syndrome can form in all skin layers, notes the above clinic.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition often starts early. The clinic mentions that babies born with EB might have missing skin at birth or develop blisters just from cuddling.
Medicover Genetics states that EB is an inherited disease caused by a gene mutation passed from parents to their children, and it can be inherited in a dominant or recessive manner. Mutations in at least 18 genes are known to cause EB, typically involved in collagen structure in the epidermis, dermis, or basement membrane, adds the mentioned source.
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