Ichthyosis
Overview
Ichthyosis is a group of rare skin conditions thatcausedry,scaly skin.It's usually something you're born with, but it can happen later in life. It cannot usually becured, but there are treatments to help the symptoms.
Symptoms
The main symptom of ichthyosis is very dry, scaly skin that may also be thick and rough. It usually affects large areas of the body including the arms, legs, torso, ears, face, or the whole body. The symptoms are often there from birth, but they can also appear after a few months or years. Sometimes the symptoms appear later in life because of another health condition, or from taking certain medicines. Ichthyosis can sometimes have more severe symptoms, including: blistered skina thin yellow, shiny layer on the skin at birth that dries out and flakes offhair losstight skin which can make moving the affected area painfulskin infectionssweating less, which can lead to overheatingproblems with hearing or eyesight There are things you can do to help ease ichthyosis symptoms at home. use emollients on affected skin at least once a day – ideally when your skin is still wet after having a bath or shower use emollients on affected skin at least once a day – ideally when your skin is still wet after having a bath or shower try different types of emollient to find 1 that works best try different types of emollient to find 1 that works best use a comb on wet hair to remove scaly skin on the scalp use a comb on wet hair to remove scaly skin on the scalp talk to your skin specialist if any treatments cause irritation talk to your skin specialist if any treatments cause irritation do not smoke or go near flames if using an emollient that contains paraffin do not smoke or go near flames if using an emollient that contains paraffin do not use soap on affected skin – use an emollient instead of soap do not use soap on affected skin – use an emollient instead of soap
Treatment
Most types of ichthyosis cannot be cured, but there are treatments to help the symptoms. Treatments may include: moisturising treatments (emollients), such as lotions, creams, ointments and bath oilspeeling creams, such as salicylic acid A skin specialist will talk to you about the different options. For more severe ichthyosis symptoms treatment can also include: antibiotics to treat or prevent skin infectionsretinoid tablets or creams to help improve the appearance of scaly skin If the ichthyosis symptoms are caused by another health condition or medicine, treating the condition or changing the medicine can improve the symptoms.