Infants are often born in a
collodion membrane, a shiny, wax outer layer on the skin and usually with
ectropion, a condition in which the eyelids turn outwards. When the membrane is shed, the skin is red with a generalized white scale. Palms, soles and areas on the joints are often affected with
hyperkeratosis, a thickening of the layer of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin forming scales. Eclabium (eversion of the lips),
ectropion and
alopecia (hair loss) are more common in congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma than in
lamellar ichthyosis. Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma can present very similarly to lamellar ichthyosis and they often share characteristics, though the two conditions can often be differentiated by the appearance of the scales. Scales on patients with congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma are fine and white on skin with erythema while they appear larger and greyer on the limbs, compared to lamellar ichthyosis where scales appear large and dark. ==Genetics==