Q: My son is 3 years old and has a skin problem called epidermolysis bullosa. His skin gets damaged even with slight friction. Is there skin treatment, which will make his skin healthy?

A:Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of inherited bullous disorders characterised by blister formation in response to mechanical trauma i.e., the site of friction. Based on a better understanding of the basement membrane zone (BMZ) and the genes responsible for its components, new treatments (e.g., gene or protein therapy) may provide solutions to the skin fragility found in patients with EB. This treatment is still in experimental stage. As we know that EB is a genetic disease and no drugs are known to correct the underlying molecular defects. Prolonged use of steroids is contraindicated in the treatment of inherited forms of EB. Steroid-induced complications further warrant prohibiting their use. No other drugs, including phenytoin and tetracycline, have improved the blistering or epithelialdis adhesion in EB significantly or consistently.