Acral peeling skin syndrome is a rare genetic skin condition. It causes painless peeling of the top layers of skin on your hands and feet. Your arms and legs can also be affected.

As noted in a 2019 case letter, acral peeling skin syndrome was first reported in 1921 by Dr. Howard Fox. Since then, fewer than 100 cases have been reported in medical literature.

“Symptoms of acral peeling skin syndrome are usually mild and don’t affect your quality of life. The condition can be managed with creams and There are things called ointments..”

This rare genetic condition is covered in detail in this article.

Acral peeling skin syndrome causes painless peeling of the top layer of your skin called the epidermis. Peeling usually affects your hands and feet but may also affect your arms or legs. The word “acral” refers to a condition that affects your peripheral body parts.

There are other symptoms that include easily plucked hairs and fragile skin. The peeling skin under the eyes may be red but it is not a cause of blisters or scars.

Peeling generally starts from birth but can also appear in late childhood or early adulthood. In a 2016 case study, a child with acral peeling skin syndrome developed blisters and peeling on his palms and soles at the age of 6 months.

Exposure to Peeling tends to make it worse.

  • It is hot
  • There is humidity.
  • It is moist.

Acral peeling skin syndrome isn’t associated with any other health conditions and usually doesn’t significantly alter quality of life.

Some examples of how acral peeling skin syndrome affects the hands and feet.

Acral peeling skin syndrome has been linked to mutations in the gene transglutaminase 5 (TGM5) and has less commonly been linked to mutations in the gene cystatin A (CSTA).

TGM5 is responsible for telling your body to create the TGM5 enzyme, which is found in many tissues, including your epidermis. The TGM5 enzyme helps create the cornified cell that acts as a protective barrier between your skin and the outside world.

If you don’t produce the TGM5 enzyme, the outermost layer of your skin can easily separate and peel off. Your hands and feet tend to be most affected because they’re the parts of your body most exposed to It is moist. and friction.

The gene CSTA codes for the CSTA enzyme, which plays a role in cell to cell adhesion.

Inheritance pattern

A pattern of genes linked to the development of acral peeling skin syndrome is found in an autosomal recessive pattern. You need to get a copy of the mutated gene from both of your parents.

“If you only receive a single parent’s gene change, you won’t develop symptoms. Your parents don’t need to have any symptoms to be carriers.”

According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, if both parents have the gene mutation:

  • A child has a small chance of developing symptoms.
  • A child has a 50 percent chance of carrying the gene.
  • A child has a 25 percent chance of not carrying the gene.

Acral peeling skin syndrome is not a contagious disease. It is linked to genes. If you come into contact with someone with this condition, you are not at risk of developing it.

Managing your symptoms is the main focus of treatment for acral peeling skin syndrome.

Is there an acral peeling skin syndrome cure?

Quality of life is not affected by this condition, although it can lead to problems.

Acral peeling skin syndrome home remedies

Symptoms are often manageable at home with a type of moisturizer called an emollient. Emollients soothe and soften dry or flaking skin by covering your skin with a thin, oily layer that helps seal in It is moist.. They come in a variety of forms, such as:

  • There are things called ointments.
  • sprays
  • creams
  • It is lotion.

Some of the most popular emollients include:

You may be able to reduce your symptoms by avoiding them.

  • In the water.
  • It was hot.
  • high There is humidity.
  • It is on your hands or feet.

Medical treatment

Medical treatments are usually not necessary. If you develop blisters, a doctor or other healthcare professional can lance them with a sterile needle to drain the fluid. They can apply a light dressing to help you avoid an infection.

A doctor or other healthcare professional may suspect acral peeling skin syndrome based on your symptoms, but diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms can resemble other conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa simplex, a condition that causes delicate skin.

A doctor will look at your medical history and symptoms to make a diagnosis.

A confirmation of the diagnosis can be made by taking a biopsy of your skin for laboratory testing. A positive test for TGM5 or CSTA gene mutations suggests acral peeling skin syndrome.

If you suspect that your child may have a skin condition, you should see a doctor.

Acral peeling skin syndrome is usually diagnosed in early childhood or at birth. It’s possible that it can remain undiagnosed in adulthood, such as in the case of a 44-year-old woman in a 2014 case study.

You will be able to manage the condition with a proper diagnosis.

A rare genetic condition called Acral peeling skin syndrome causes painless peeling of the skin on your hands and feet. If both of your parents have a genetic abnormality, you can develop this condition.

Acral peeling skin syndrome doesn’t have a cure, but it rarely causes complications or affects your quality of life significantly. Symptoms can usually be managed by applying moisturizing There are things called ointments., It is lotion., or creams to affected areas.