Plastic Baby (Collodion) Gives Birth to a Plastic Baby

The collodion baby is a descriptive term for the infant who is born encased in a tight shiny membrane that resembles plastic wrap. The collodion baby is not a disease entity but is the first expression of some forms of ichthyosis. Most cases are due to autosomal recessively inherited ichthyosiform disease. Mutations in the genes TGM1, 2,3 ABCA12(ARCI) are associated with collodion phenotype at birth. The severe classic lamellar ichthyosis phenotype is characterised by large brown thick scales with plate-like appearance over the entire body surface combined with eyelid ectropion. Smaller and lighter scales characterised the milder phenotype, namely non-bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, with generalized skin reddening.