Definition
1. Normal newborn skin color response to position change with dependent erythema
Physiology
1. Immature hypothalamus with inconsistent regulation of peripheral vessels
Epidemiology
1. Affects 10% of newborns within the first few weeks of life
Symptoms
1. Episodic skin color change after a child was lying on their side
  1. Appears as if half their body (dependent side) is deep red and the opposite pale white
2. Episodes last for up to 20 minutes and resolves with movement or crying
Signs
1. Skin erythema on the side of body that is dependent (down)
2. Skin blanching on the non-dependent opposite side (up side)
Management
1. No intervention or evaluation is required
2. Spontaneously resolves
References
1. O'Connor (2008) Am Fam Physician 77:47

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised on 3/22/2008 7:42:36 AM. This page was last published on 5/10/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.