Dyskeratosis congenita is present at birth, but symptoms may not show up until a child is older. Sometimes symptoms may not appear until the teen or adult years. People with dyskeratosis congenita often experience these three characteristics: Skin pigmentation problems and rashes that look like lacy patterns (especially on the neck or chest) Nails that grow slowly, are discolored or have unusual shapes Oral leukoplakia (white patches inside the mouth) Dyskeratosis congenita can cause other problems as well, such as: Frequent infections Low energy and fatigue Bleeding problems Eye and dental problems Short stature Osteoporosis (low bone density) Developmental delays Aplastic anemia (when the body does not produce enough red blood cells) Myelodysplastic syndrome (when blood cells do not form properly or work correctly) Blood cancers such as leukemia and other types of cancers Fibrosis (scarring) in the lungs or liver