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Nikolsky sign

Definition

Nikolsky sign is a skin finding in which the top layers of the skin slip away from the lower layers when rubbed.

Considerations

The sign is more common in newborn babies and in young children under 5 years of age. It often begins in the mouth and on neck, shoulder, arm pit, and genital area. A child may be lethargic, irritable, and feverish. They may develop red painful blisters on the skin, which break easily.

Adults with disturbed kidney functions or with a weak immune system may have this sign. Your health care provider may use a pencil eraser or finger to test for Nikolsky sign. The skin is pulled to the side with a shearing pressure on the surface, or by rotating the eraser back and forth.

If the test result is positive, the very thin top layer of skin will shear off, leaving skin pink and moist, and usually very tender.

A positive result is usually a sign of a blistering skin condition. People with a positive sign have loose skin that slips free from the underlying layers when rubbed.

Causes

The Nikolsky sign can be often found in people with:

• Autoimmune blistering conditions such as pemphigus vulgaris

• Bacterial infections such as scalded skin syndrome

• Drug reactions such as erythema multiforme

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you or your child develops painful loosening, redness, and blistering of the skin, which you do not know the cause of (for example, a skin burn).

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The conditions associated with Nikolsky sign can be serious. Some people need to be admitted to the hospital. You will be asked about your medical history and given a physical examination.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the condition.

You may be given:

• Fluid and antibiotics through a vein (intravenously)

• Petroleum jelly to decrease pain

• Local wound care

Healing of the skin blisters occurs in about 1 to 2 weeks with no scarring.

References

Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL. Blisters and vesicles. In: Fitzpatrick JE, High WA, Kyle WL, eds. Urgent Care Dermatology: Symptom-Based Diagnosis. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 11.

Grayson W, Calonje E. Infectious diseases of the skin. In: Calonje E, Brenn T, Lazar AJ, Billings SD, eds. McKee's Pathology of the Skin. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 18.

Levin LE, Garzon MC, Lauren CT, Morel KD. Dermatology. In: Polin RA, Ditmar MF, eds. Pediatric Secrets. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 4.

Marco CA. Dermatologic presentations. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 107.

Review Date: 2/15/2024

Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.