Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in dermatology: an overview and an evaluation

Certain skin disorders are affected by alcohol abuse. Maternal alcohol abus e during pregnancy also gives rise to a typical malformation pattern in the child with a varying degree of severity (grade I-III). The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is based on the detailed hist ory of the maternal alcohol consumption in combination with the clinical, m orphological, intellectual. and psychosocial development of the child. The behavior of the child is also of diagnostic value. The grade of severity of the FAS can be determined during the first three years of life on the basi s of a scoring system. In addition to medical care and surgical treatment o f associated disorders, early support for the mental development of the chi ld is of immense importance. Furthermore, the medical, social and psycholog ical care of the mother must be considered. In the field of dermatology, knowledge about the pathomechanism of FAS is a lso important for its prevention in unborn children. Women of childbearing age presenting with dermatological signs of possible alcohol abuse, should alert the dermatologist to the possible risk to the child of FAS. Familiari ty with FAS and the ability to recognise its clinical features are importan t for the adequate treatment and support of the affected child and for the mother suffering from alcohol disease, in cooperation with other treating d octors.