Porphyria cutanea tarda on the hands

Porphyria cutanea tarda can be inherited as a dominant trait or acquired due to liver disease. Sun exposed areas develop blistering (vesicles and bullae), erosions and ulcerations, fragile skin, pigmentary changes, and scarring.

Review Date: 02/28/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.