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• Conditions (26): Darier's Disease, Hailey-Hailey disease, Lichen Planus, and 23 others Darier's Disease, Hailey-Hailey disease, Lichen Planus, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Genetic and Rare Conditions, Melanoma, Skin and Hair, Beckers Nevus, dermatitis, Eczema, Marfan syndrome, Friedreich's Ataxia, Skin Cancer, Lichen Sclerosus, Polycystic Kidney Diseases, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Skin Abnormalities, Angelman syndrome, Squamish Cell Skin Cancer, Ichthyosis, Acne Rosacea, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, skin disorder, Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome, Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma [hide]
• Groups (14): Ichthyosis , Darier's Disease, Eczema, and 11 others Ichthyosis , Darier's Disease, Eczema, Beckers Nevus, Melanoma, Lichen Planus, Lichen Sclerosis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Sweet Syndrome, Acne Rosacea, Ichthyosis Vulgaris, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome [hide]
• Symptoms (14): Von Willebrand disease, Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, and 11 others Von Willebrand disease, Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Raynaud's Disease and Phenomenon, Angioedema, red skin rash, Mole, Scleroderma, Port-Wine Stain, keratinization, Cryoglobulinemia, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, Skin Findings, Urticaria [hide]
• Treatments (13): achondroplasia, Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, and 10 others achondroplasia, Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, Dermabrasion, HYDROQUINONE 4 %, Lactic acid 50 MG/ML Topical Lotion, ammonium lactate, AMMONIUM LACTATE 5 %, ammonium lactate 120 MG/ML Topical Lotion, AMMONIUM LACTATE 12 %, Lactic acid 120 MG/ML Topical Cream, Other OR therapeutic procedures on skin and breast, dioxybenzone 30 MG/ML / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 50 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream [hide]

About Ichthyosis Vulgaris

Ichthyosis vulgaris is a skin disorder causing dry, scaly skin. It is the most common form of ichthyosis, affecting around 1 in 250-300 people. For this reason it is known as common ichthyosis. It is also referred to as fish skin disease on account of its appearance. It is overwhelmingly a dominant... more

Ichthyosis vulgaris is a skin disorder causing dry, scaly skin.

It is the most common form of ichthyosis, affecting around 1 in 250-300 people. For this reason it is known as common ichthyosis. It is also referred to as fish skin disease on account of its appearance.

It is overwhelmingly a dominant inherited disease, although a very rare variant, acquired ichthyosis vulgaris, is not inherited.

The symptoms of the inherited condition manifest themselves at around four years old. The symptoms will often improve with age, although they may grow more severe again in old age.

The acquired variant usually becomes evident during adulthood.

The condition is not life-threatening; the impact on the patient, who has a mild case, is generally restricted to mild itching and the social impact of having skin with an unusual appearance. People afflicted with "mild" cases have symptoms which include "lines" or scaly patches on the shins, fine white scales on the forearms and rough palms.

However, severe cases, although rare, do exist. Severe cases would entail the build up of scales everywhere, with areas of the body that have a concentration of sweat glands being least affected. Areas where the skin rubs against each other, such as the arm pits, the groin, and the "folded" areas of the elbow and knees, would also be less affected. When the build up of scales is bad, the person with a severe case would suffer from "prickly itch" when he or she needs to sweat but cannot as a result of the scales. Various topical treatments are available to "exfoliate" the scales. These include various lotions that contain alpha-hydroxy acids.

The climate or weather where someone afflicted with severe cases live will have a deterministic impact on the condition. Paradoxically, those at risk of "prickly itch" should seek rather than avoid hot and humid climate. Living year-round in a tropical climate would facilitate sweating; sweating would in turn facilitate the clearing of the scales and keep the condition leading to "prickly itch" at bay. On the other hand, cold and dry climate has the opposite effect. Not only would harsh winters inhibit sweating, but they would contribute to the build up of scales. Overexposure to strong air-conditioning and overconsumption of alcohol would also aggravate the build up of scales, and heighten the risk of "prickly itch."

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