Hutchinson's mask

Hutchinson's mask is a patient's sensation that the face is covered with a mask or a gauzy network like cobwebs.

This medical sign is associated with tabes dorsalis[1] affecting the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve CN V).

It is named in honour of the English physician Sir Jonathan Hutchinson (1828–1913).

[2] Subjective sensations of various kinds, as numbness, pins and needles, formication, a cold trickling feeling in the skin, a feeling in the soles of the feet of walking on putty, wool, or velvet may be complained of.

In rare cases Hutchinson's mask, due to affection of the fifth, occurs.