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What is ichthyosis?
Ichthyosis is a general term which covers a group of different skin conditions in which the skin is dry, thickened and scaly. These conditions are usually inherited, although there are some non-hereditary causes, such as reactions to medication, hormone problems, underlying cancer, nutritional deficiency and kidney failure.
These non-hereditary causes are more common when adults develop scaly skin, and less likely in a one-year-old, although they may need to be ruled out.
Some types of ichthyosis cause serious skin problems but, fortunately, they're rare. The most common type of ichthyosis, known as ichthyosis vulgaris, is usually much less harmful. It affects one in 250 people, but often goes undiagnosed because it tends to be so mild.
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Symptoms
In ichthyosis vulgaris, the skin cells are produced at the standard rate, but don't separate normally as they reach the skin's surface. This means skin cells aren't shed as quickly as they should be, leading to a build-up of cells, which appear as scales. Just one or a few areas are usually affected, often the legs or lower body.
The face isn't usually affected but, when it is, the scaling is usually limited to the forehead and cheeks. The scales are typically fine and white.
Most babies with ichthyosis vulgaris don't have any sign of the condition when they're newly born. But within the first year, skin abnormalities begin to develop.
The dry, scaly skin may then become a chronic, lifelong problem, although it can vary dramatically with age, weather and other factors. It often improves in the summer, for example, and also tends to get better with age.
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Treatment and recovery
There are two main aims of treatment for ichthyosis:
There may be other treatments aimed at the cause of ichthyosis if this can be identified – for example correcting nutritional deficiencies, stopping or changing medication or treating hormonal problems.
Ichthyosis is a general term which covers a group of different skin conditions in which the skin is dry, thickened and scaly. These conditions are usually inherited, although there are some non-hereditary causes, such as reactions to medication, hormone problems, underlying cancer, nutritional deficiency and kidney failure.
These non-hereditary causes are more common when adults develop scaly skin, and less likely in a one-year-old, although they may need to be ruled out.
Some types of ichthyosis cause serious skin problems but, fortunately, they're rare. The most common type of ichthyosis, known as ichthyosis vulgaris, is usually much less harmful. It affects one in 250 people, but often goes undiagnosed because it tends to be so mild.
Top
Symptoms
In ichthyosis vulgaris, the skin cells are produced at the standard rate, but don't separate normally as they reach the skin's surface. This means skin cells aren't shed as quickly as they should be, leading to a build-up of cells, which appear as scales. Just one or a few areas are usually affected, often the legs or lower body.
The face isn't usually affected but, when it is, the scaling is usually limited to the forehead and cheeks. The scales are typically fine and white.
Most babies with ichthyosis vulgaris don't have any sign of the condition when they're newly born. But within the first year, skin abnormalities begin to develop.
The dry, scaly skin may then become a chronic, lifelong problem, although it can vary dramatically with age, weather and other factors. It often improves in the summer, for example, and also tends to get better with age.
Top
Treatment and recovery
There are two main aims of treatment for ichthyosis:
- Keeping the skin moisturised and supple – the main aim is to prevent cracks from forming in the skin as these can allow micro-organisms to penetrate the barrier of the skin and so infection to establish. This is done using moisturising creams, and baths and lotions called emollients.
- Removing some of the layers of skin cells, either by mechanical means (rubbing gently with a pumice) or by treatments such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which help to break up the chemical 'cement' that glues skin cells together.
There may be other treatments aimed at the cause of ichthyosis if this can be identified – for example correcting nutritional deficiencies, stopping or changing medication or treating hormonal problems.