Photo Rounds

Skin discoloration on infant

J Fam Pract. 2015 July;64(7)

During a routine examination of a 4-month-old girl, the family physician (FP) noted a reticulated, mottled skin discoloration on the infant’s upper thighs. The FP asked the mother if she had noticed this before, and she said she remembered seeing it a few times during diaper changes. The remainder of the physical exam was normal.

What's your diagnosis?

 

The FP recognized this as cutis marmorata, a normal response to cold in infants. The pattern resolved when the infant was warmed. Cutis marmorata is reticulated, mottled skin with symmetric involvement of the trunk and extremities. This condition can come and go for weeks to months.

In this case, no treatment was needed, and the physician reassured the mother that it was normal and would resolve spontaneously in the coming months. The infant received her typical 4-month vaccines as planned.

Photos and text for Photo Rounds Friday courtesy of Richard P. Usatine, MD. This case was adapted from: Fernandez C, Smith M. Normal skin changes. In: Usatine R, Smith M, Mayeaux EJ, et al, eds. Color Atlas of Family Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013:629-635.

To learn more about the Color Atlas of Family Medicine, see: www.amazon.com/Color-Family-Medicine-Richard-Usatine/dp/0071769641/

You can now get the second edition of the Color Atlas of Family Medicine as an app by clicking on this link: usatinemedia.com

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