Proposed causes include perinatal stress, local trauma, hypoxia and hypothermia, though the exact cause is unknown.

Complications can include hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia, dehydration, hypoglycemia, seizures, vomiting, constipation, and thrombocytopenia, and can present months after the onset of SCFN symptoms.

[4] There has been a case report of SCFN with localized scalp alopecia covering an erythematous nodule.

[10] Although the exact cause of the newborn's subcutaneous fat necrosis is unknown, several systemic maternal diseases, including preeclampsia and diabetes, as well as asphyxia, hypothermia, meconium aspiration, and obstetric trauma, may act as precipitating factors in the development of SCFN.

[11] But in order to prevent skin biopsy, ultrasonography examination has been shown to be useful in identifying the newborn's subcutaneous fat necrosis when combined with Doppler blood flow analysis; this usually indicates a subcutaneous high echo signal, either with or without calcifications.