Why Is It Called Harlequin

The name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous “devil” or “demon” character in popular French passion plays.

Can Harlequin be cured?

There’s no cure for Harlequin ichthyosis, so management becomes a crucial part of the equation after initial treatment. And it’s all about the skin.

Why do babies with harlequin ichthyosis have red eyes?

The newborn child is covered with plates of thick skin that crack and split apart. The thick skin plates can pull at and distort facial features. The tightness of the skin pulls around the eyes and the mouth, forcing the eyelids and lips to turn inside out, revealing the red inner linings.