Cutis Laxa, an Extremely Rare Connective Tissue Disorder, 1907

Dermatochalasia, also known as cutis laxa, is distinct from the more common Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but displays many of the same symptoms, including hyperelasticity of the skin and joints.

(Image from Krankheiten der nerven, Muskeln und Haut. 1907)

Cutis laxa is caused by defects in the elastin fibers of the extracellular matrix, while Ehlers-Danlos is caused by defects in the collagen fibers of that matrix. Both conditions can be inherited in either an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern, but all are caused by genetic mutations.