Ask the Doc

Elizabeth Anderson Responds:

Cutis Marmorata is a somewhat uncommon condition that I see from time to time. It usually involves some degree of ulceration and atrophy of the skin and is related to the blood vessels in the skin. It is sometimes seen in association with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrom, and some doctors even think they are in the same group of diseases, which is why your pediatrician may have given you both diagnoses. No one know what causes this disease. Typically the skin lesions don't require any treatment (and don't respond to treatment) and resolve spontaneously, although the symptoms may persist for several years. You may want to ask your pediatrician to refer your daughter to an ophthalmoligst as glaucoma can sometimes be seen with this condition, especially if there are skin lesions around the eyes.

-Dr. Anderson

Answer Published on 6/21/2009 at 2:43 PM