We describe an 18-month-old male infant suffering from the ichthyosis 
follicularis, atrichia, and photophobia (IFAP) syndrome and further delineate 
the clinical phenotype. Severe retardation of growth and psychomotor 
development, chill-like seizures, bronchial asthma, urticaria, a proneness to 
skin infections and transient nail dystrophy observed in our patient are 
non-obligatory manifestations of this disorder. Histological examination of the 
atrichia revealed poorly developed, shortened hair follicles and a complete 
absence of sebaceous glands. The sex ratio of published cases suggests an 
X-linked recessive inheritance. The marked clinical variability of the IFAP 
syndrome might be the expression of a contiguous gene defect.