Volunteer Spotlight: Our Website Committee

Building an all-new NFED.org is a major undertaking! Luckily, we have five volunteers who are advising us at every step of the way. The research phase of the project began in June of 2015. We are excited about how the site is developing. The big reveal will be in November. For their hard work and…

Ear Wax In Ectodermal Dysplasia

Some people affected by ectodermal dysplasias may experience abnormal wax production or accumulation. We expect this since wax glands are specialized types of sweat and skin glands. The most frequent problem is excessive accumulation of wax in the ear canal. This may result in severe itching and even hearing loss. Removing the Wax If a…

Transforming Me

At 37, Cheryl Kingsford has been working for a lifetime to get the smile she radiantly beams every day now. Cheryl was eight years old when she was first diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia but because of other issues going on in her family, the diagnosis was forgotten.  It wouldn’t be till 22 years later that…

A Treatment for Corneal Erosions in EEC?

Corneal abnormalities are a major clinical issue encountered by patients affected by ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome. EEC is caused by dominant mutations in the p63 gene, meaning that EEC patients have one copy of the normal p63 gene and one copy of the mutant p63 gene. It has been suspected that removing the mutant p63…

Ectodermal Dysplasias: How Nails Can Be Affected

The nails in some types of ectodermal dysplasia may be… poorly developed, small, thick or thin, brittle, discolored, cracked, abnormally curved, or ridged. In addition, they may grow slowly or shed periodically and may develop light spots, lines, or patches. The nails and surrounding cuticle area may become infected by fungus, yeast, or bacteria.  If…