Epidermolysis Bullosa
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a family of rare genetic disorders that affect the body's largest organ: the skin. Individuals with EB lack critical proteins that bind the skin's two layers together. Without these proteins, the skin tears apart, blisters, and shears off leading to severe pain, disfigurement, and wounds that may never heal.
EB Subtypes
There are 4 major subtypes of EB. Click to learn more about each subtype below.
HEREDITY OF EB
Genetic disorders, like EB, are usually passed down from parents to offspring, although they are rarely caused by a spontaneous DNA mutation. EBS and DDEB are passed down through dominant inheritance. This means only one copy of the mutated gene, from either the mother or father, is needed for a child to express the disorder. RDEB, JEB, and Kindler Syndrome are all passed down through recessive inheritance. This means that a child needs to get 2 copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to express the disease. Children can also be carriers of the gene, which means they're able to pass it down to their children, but do not express the disorder.
