Newborns with clinically evident forms of congenital ichthyosis are generally classified as "collodion babies" in view of the particular appearance of their skin that looks rather like a membrane of dried cellophane. This is an extremely rare clinical picture that may be the expression of various types of ichthyosis. The present paper describes two cases of collodion baby with a report on the latest discoveries about the physiopathology of the condition and the current classification of its congenital forms.