About ichthyosis

What is ichthyosis?

Ichthyosis is a general term for a family of rare genetic skin diseases characterized by dry, thickened, scaling skin. The various forms are distinguished from one another by: 1) extent of the scaling and how widely and where the scaling is scattered over the body; 2) the presence or absence and intensity of reddening of the skin (erythroderma); 3) the mode of inheritance; and 4) the character of associated abnormalities.

What are the symptoms for ichthyosis?

Skin symptom was found in the ichthyosis condition

Ichthyosis vulgaris is characterized by Dry skin with small scales in a color range from white to dirty gray or brown.

Ichthyosis vulgaris slows your skin's natural shedding process. This causes chronic, excessive buildup of the protein in the upper layer of the skin (keratin). Symptoms include:

  • Dry, scaly skin
  • Tile-like, small scales
  • White, gray or brown scales, depending on skin color
  • Flaky scalp
  • Deep, painful cracks in your skin

The scales usually appear on your elbows and lower legs and may be especially thick and dark over your shins. Most cases of ichthyosis vulgaris are mild, but some can be severe. The severity of symptoms may vary widely among family members who have the condition.

Symptoms usually worsen or are more pronounced in cold, dry environments and tend to improve or even resolve in warm, humid environments.

What are the causes for ichthyosis?

Ichthyosis vulgaris is commonly caused by a genetic mutation that's inherited from one or both parents. Children who inherit a defective gene from just one parent have a milder form of the disease. Those who inherit two defective genes have a more severe form of ichthyosis vulgaris. Children with the inherited form of the disorder usually have normal skin at birth, but develop scaling and roughness during the first few years of life.

If genetic abnormalities aren't responsible for ichthyosis, it's referred to as acquired ichthyosis. It's usually associated with other diseases, such as cancer, thyroid disease or HIV/AIDS.

What are the treatments for ichthyosis?

Ichthyosis vulgaris doesn't have a known cure, so the goal of treatment is to manage the condition.

Medications

Treatments may include:

  • Exfoliating creams and ointments. Prescription creams and ointments containing alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid and glycolic acid, help control scaling and increase skin moisture.
  • Oral medication. Your doctor may prescribe vitamin A-derived medications called retinoids to reduce the production of skin cells. Side effects from the medication may include eye and lip inflammation, bone spurs and hair loss.

    Retinoids may cause birth defects. Women considering retinoid therapy should be sure they are not pregnant before starting the medication — and use effective birth control while taking retinoids.

What are the risk factors for ichthyosis?

Dead skin cells build up in thick, dry scales on the surface of your skin as a result of the genetic skin condition ichthyosis vulgaris.

  • Ichthyosis vulgaris, also known as fish scale disease or fish skin disease, can cause scales to develop from birth, but this is typically when they first do.
  • Because they are frequently mistaken for cases of severely dry skin, modest occurrences of ichthyosis vulgaris can go undetected.
  • Commonly, a genetic mutation acquired from one or both parents causes ichthyosis vulgaris. The condition is milder in children who receive a faulty gene from just one parent.
  • Itchyosis vulgaris is more severe in people who inherit two faulty genes. Children with the hereditary form of the illness often have normal skin at birth, but within the first few years of life, scaling and roughness develop.
  • Children with the inherited form of the disorder usually have normal skin at birth, but develop scaling and roughness during the first few years of life.
  • If genetic abnormalities aren't responsible for ichthyosis, it's referred to as acquired ichthyosis. It's usually associated with other diseases, such as cancer, thyroid disease or HIV/AIDS.


Symptoms
Dry scaly skin,Flaky scalp
Conditions
Deep and painful cracks in skin,Tile like scales
Drugs
Alpha hydroxy acids,Glycolic acid,Lactic acid

Is there a cure/medications for ichthyosis?

Ichthyosis has no known treatment; however, frequent moisturizing and exfoliation of the skin can help avoid dryness, scaling, and the accumulation of skin cells.

  • Emollients that are appropriate for your skin condition can be prescribed by or recommended by your dermatologist and come in the form of cream, ointment, lotion, or bath oil.
  • You need to apply emollients to damp skin to retain moisture; preferably, do this shortly after taking a shower or bath. Gently scrub wet skin with a pumice stone to remove part of the thickened skin.
  • Lanolin creams, items containing urea, propylene glycol, lactic acid, and other alpha hydroxy acids, and other effective exfoliating or moisturizing goods are also available.
  • To assist exfoliate and moisturize your skin, your dermatologist may also suggest peeling treatments like salicylic acid. However, some persons could get skin irritation from these products.Skin infections may be treated with antibiotics or antiseptics. Ichthyosis cannot be cured with steroid medications.
  • Tablets containing retinoid (synthetic vitamin A), which slows the growth of excessively scaly skin, may be recommended to people with severe ichthyosis. They make the skin look better, but they don't make the inflammation or redness go away.


Symptoms
Dry scaly skin,Flaky scalp
Conditions
Deep and painful cracks in skin,Tile like scales
Drugs
Alpha hydroxy acids,Glycolic acid,Lactic acid

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