Vol. 129 No. 2 (2025)
Original Article

Embryologic layers in dermatology: Developmental checkpoint disorders, diagnostic insight, and regenerative futures

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  • Gökhan Kaya,
  • Gülce Naz Yazici,
  • Ceren Alavanda,
  • Özlem Su Küçük
Gökhan Kaya
Department of Dermatology, Sivas Medicana Hospital, Sivas, Türkiye
Gülce Naz Yazici
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Erzincan, Türkiye
Ceren Alavanda
Department of Medical Genetics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Özlem Su Küçük
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmiâlem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Türkiye
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/ijae-16696

Published 2025-12-30

Keywords

  • Embryonic Development,
  • Skin Abnormalities,
  • Congenital Disorders,
  • Dermatology,
  • Regenerative Medicine

How to Cite

Kaya, G., Yazici, G. N., Alavanda, C., & Küçük Özlem S. (2025). Embryologic layers in dermatology: Developmental checkpoint disorders, diagnostic insight, and regenerative futures. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 129(2), 13–28. https://doi.org/10.36253/ijae-16696

Copyright (c) 2025 Gökhan Kaya, Gülce Naz Yazici, Ceren Alavanda, Özlem Su Küçük

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Objectives: This review aims to present a developmental framework linking embryonic lineage with non-heritable cutaneous anomalies to improve diagnostic precision and educational approaches in dermatology. Materials and Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases covering the years 2000–2025. Keywords included “skin development,” “embryology,” “developmental checkpoint disorders,” and “non-genetic congenital disorders.” Data on morphogenesis, embryologic signaling pathways, and representative disorders were synthesized into a layer-based model. Results: Disorders such as self-healing collodion baby (periderm retention anomaly), pigmentary mosaicism (postzygotic melanocyte patterning defect), and focal dermal hypoplasia (connective tissue maldevelopment) reflect disruptions at specific morphogenetic checkpoints. Mapping these conditions to their embryonic origins revealed layer-specific vulnerability windows and facilitated differential diagnosis from inherited disorders. Understanding these embryologic principles supports earlier diagnosis, informed prenatal counseling, and structured integration into dermatology curricula. Advances in regenerative medicine, particularly stem cell–based strategies, highlight the translational potential of dermatoembryology in developing targeted therapies. Conclusion: A layer-oriented dermatoembryological perspective enhances recognition of developmental skin disorders, especially when genetic analyses are inconclusive. Incorporating embryologic concepts into clinical reasoning not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also fosters regenerative therapeutic innovations and enriches dermatology education.

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