What is EI?

Epidermolytic Ichthyosis (EI) is rare skin disease that causes fragility of the skin. Children who are affected with EI get blisters on their body from friction. Simple everyday activities such as picking them up, or a seam in their clothes can cause blisters.

As they get older, their skin will change from skin which blisters very frequently to skin that hardens and thickens, and cracks easily, and can limit mobility. This can lead to skin that looks different, suffers infections frequently, cannot regulate body temperature effectively, and can cause permanent disability, with many impacted by EI using wheelchairs.

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EI is a mutation of one of the keratin genes. The mutation can be found on the KRT1, KRT10, KRT2 or KRT9 gene. For more information on how the different mutations influence the symptoms of EI, and what EI is, please visit https://www.eicureproject.com/what-is-ei