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Mottled skin or Cutis Marmorata in neonates

Cutis marmorata or "marbled skin" refers to mottled skin, typically in newborns in the first few months of life.
This reticulated pattern of constricted capillaries and venules is often called "mottling" due to vasomotor instability in immature infants. It generally resolves with increasing age and for most infants is of no significance.

Explanation of cutis marmorata :
This phenomenon is caused by instability or immaturity of the nerve supply to the superficial capillary blood vessels in the skin. This causes the blood vessels in some regions of the skin to dilate, producing a red color of the skin, while other regions are contracting, producing pale skin.

In spite of it`s insignificance in most babies ,it may reflect underlying poor perfusion and infants who develop mottling and are unwell need to be clinically evaluated for sepsis and other illnesses.

Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita :

Reticular skin lesions on the right arm of a 7-y girl

It is localised , marked and more pronounced form of cutis marmorata which may be associated with other defects. It is uncommon and sometimes called (congenital generalized phlebectasia)
cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita is often reported in association with a variety of other congenital anomalies, the most common anomaly associated is Body asymmetry.

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