Nikolsky sign
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Definition
Nikolsky sign is a skin finding in which the top layers of the skin slip away from the lower layers when rubbed.
Considerations
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
Call 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. You may be given fluid and antibiotics through a vein (intravenously).
Treatment will depend on the cause of the condition.
Images
References
Habif TP. Vesicular and bullous diseases. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 16.
Marco CA. Dermatologic presentations. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 110.