“EB, or Not EB?” Neonatal Desquamative Impetigo in a Degloving Pattern

We present the case of a 7-day-old boy with significant, rapidly spreading blistering and desquamation in a “degloving” pattern on the hands that mimicked epidermolysis bullosa but was ultimately diagnosed as bullous impetigo caused by a clinically aggressive strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Bullous impetigo is a desquamating condition caused by local release of S. aureus exfoliative toxin A and is more commonly seen in children. This case highlights the fragility of newborn skin and reviews the major diagnoses that should be considered in an infant with significant blistering.