Ichthyosis is a group of skin conditions that leads to itchy and dry skin that appears rough, red, or scaly. Symptoms can be mild to severe, and the condition might also affect the internal organs. This is usually an inherited skin condition, but there are patients who develop this condition related to other health concerns. Most people with Ichthyosis will have to be in treatment for the rest of their lives after diagnosis in order to manage their condition.
The common symptoms of Ichthyosis:
A gene mutation causes most of the various forms of this condition. In some patients, other health conditions can lead to gene mutations that cause Ichthyosis. In Ichthyosis, the skin does not follow the correct shedding pattern to maintain skin health. This means that the skin might grow more cells before they are needed or might not grow enough cells to keep up with shedding.
The risk factors for this condition are:
Ichthyosis is diagnosed through physical examination of the skin as well as skin biopsies. Patients might need to be sent to see a dermatologist to get the correct diagnosis for their condition. Biopsies can help to verify that Ichthyosis is the reason for a patient’s symptoms and not other skin conditions that share common symptoms. Genetic testing can also help to confirm a diagnosis of Ichthyosis.
Treatment of Ichthyosis is usually required for life. This condition has no cure. Many patients are able to release large scales by taking long baths. There are also prescription ointments that can be used to help control symptoms and make skin lesions less painful. Hydrating creams can also help to trap moisture in the skin and alleviate some of the symptoms of this condition. Keratolytic agents can also be applied to the skin to help loosen scales and prevent new ones from forming.
Some patients who have severe symptoms will need to be treated by other specialists. Ophthalmologists, audiologists, genetic counsellors, and other specialists can help patients with Ichthyosis to manage their symptoms. Most patients with Ichthyosis will need to maintain a treatment routine for their entire life to make sure that their skin challenges remain manageable.
Prevention of this condition is not possible. This is a genetic condition in nearly every case, which means that patients with a family history of Ichthyosis will be more likely to get this skin condition than others due to their genetics.