Ichthyosis
Causes
Most individuals with ichthyosis inherited a defective gene from one of their parents. Inherited ichthyosis shows signs and symptoms at birth or within the first year of life.
The faulty gene affects the rate of skin regeneration in one of two ways: either the skin cells reproduce much more quickly than they can shed old skin, or the speed of old skin cell shedding is too slow. In either case, this leads to rough, scaly skin accumulation.
Treating Ichthyosis
Ichthyosis has no known treatment, but daily moisturizing and exfoliating of the skin can help prevent dryness, scaling, and the accumulation of skin cells.
Skincare
- After a bath or shower, apply emollients to wet skin to keep it moisturized. Ideally, a few minutes later, gently rub damp skin to remove some of the thickened skin
- Brush your hair after a shower to get rid of any scalp scales
- Lanolin creams, items containing propylene glycol, urea, lactic acid, and other alpha hydroxy acids, and other products are additional helpful exfoliating or moisturizing goods
Your dermatologist may suggest peeling creams like salicylic acid to help exfoliate and moisturize your skin. However, some people might experience skin irritation from these products. It is possible to treat skin infections with antibiotics or antiseptics.
Severe ichthyosis patients may need to spend several hours daily taking care of their skin.
The following issues could affect them:
- Overheating
- Limited movement
- Skin infection
- Impaired hearing or eyesight
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022