Cutaneous lesions on the face of a baby boy with acrodermatitis enteropathica. Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a rare genetic disorder, characterized by inflammation of the skin of the fingers and around the mouth and anus, as well as hair loss, diarrhoea and other symptoms. It is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes a membrane protein that binds zinc, preventing zinc absorption by the bowel, and resulting in deficiency symptoms. The condition is fatal if not treated with lifelong zinc supplements.