Ichthyosis includes a group of skin diseases that cause dry, itchy skin and uneven, rough, and red skin. The symptoms of this disease may be mild or severe; that is, it only changes the skin’s appearance or involves the body’s internal organs. Do you know why ichthyosis occurs and what complications and treatment it has? Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about this disease.
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What is ichthyosis?
An ichthyosis is a group of about 20 skin diseases that cause skin dryness and peeling. Ichthyosis is derived from a Greek word meaning fish because the skin looks like a fish due to this disease. This complication is also called fish scale disease or fish skin.
People with ichthyosis lose the protective barrier that keeps the skin moist. Also, their body makes new skin cells too quickly or loses old skin cells too slowly, which creates thick, scaly skin.
Although there is no cure for ichthyosis, and most cases are mild, some treatments help remove scales and make you feel better.
Types of ichthyosis
Some types of actives only cause dryness and flaking of the skin, but other types can cause problems inside the body. Most types of this disease are scarce, and only two types of ichthyosis are more common:
- Ichthyosis Vulgaris: one out of every 250 people has this disease. Gray, brown, or white crusts can be visible from early childhood.
- X – linked ichthyosis: One out of every 6,000 people has this disease, and that person is a man. This disease can increase the risk of testicular cancer. Women can be carriers of this disease and have problems related to childbirth.
Other types of ichthyosis
- Harlequin ichthyosis: It is present at birth and covers the entire body with thick patches of skin. This type of ichthyosis can change the shape of the face and make it difficult to move the joints.
- Epidermolytic ichthyosis is present at birth, and most affected babies are born with fragile skin and blisters all over the body. Over time, the blisters disappear, and crusts take their place. This may cause a grooved appearance in areas of the body that bend.
- Lamellar ichthyosis: present at birth. Babies are covered with a clear and tough covering called a collodion membrane, which ultimately falls off after a few weeks, and large, dark scales can be seen all over the body.
- Congenital ichthyotic erythroderma is present at birth, and the baby has a collodion membrane.
- Erythrokeratoderma variables: usually develops a few months after birth and progress during childhood. Rough, thick, red skin areas may develop, typically seen on the face, buttocks, hands, and feet. Of course, it may spread to other sites over time.
- Symmetric progressive erythrokeratoderma: usually occurs in childhood with dryness, redness, and peeling of the skin of the hands and feet, buttocks, face, wrists, and ankles.
Cause of ichthyosis
Anyone can get an ichthyosis skin disease. This disease has two leading causes, which we will examine below.
1. Hereditary ichthyosis
It is a genetic disease, meaning a person may have inherited it from his parents. Genes carry codes that determine the appearance and function of the body. A change or mutation in a gene can cause disease. Ichthyosis gene mutations affect proteins that play a role in maintaining skin moisture. It also affects the rate of skin shedding or the growth of new skin cells.
Ichthyosis is usually diagnosed in early childhood. If both parents have this gene, the child is likelier to have a more severe disease than if only one parent has this gene.
Hereditary ichthyosis is divided into several categories;
- dominant;
- latent;
- dependent on X;
- automatically.
2. Acquired ichthyosis
This disease appears in adults. Doctors do not know the cause of this disease, but people with this disease usually have other conditions, including:
- hypothyroidism ;
- Kidney Disease;
- Sarcoidosis (a rare disease that causes inflammatory spots in the body);
- cancer such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma;
- HIV infection.
Some medications may cause the onset of the disease, including:
- Cancer drugs such as hydroxyurea, protease inhibitors, and vemurafenib.
- Nicotinic acid is used to treat high cholesterol.
Symptoms of ichthyosis
In hereditary ichthyosis, symptoms appear at birth or a few months later. Dry and scaly skin is the main symptom of the disease. Scabies only forms on certain parts of the body, including:
- trunk
- Stomach
- hip;
- Face and scalp.
The crusts may be white, gray, or dark brown, with thick or thin cracks. Dryness and flaking are worse in cold, dry weather and usually improve in warmer weather.
Ichthyosis has other symptoms, including:
- skin redness;
- Blister;
- Molt;
- itching;
- the pain;
- lines on the palms and feet;
- dry eyes ;
- hearing problem;
- joint flexibility problem;
- creating an open wound due to scratching the skin;
- Skin stiffness may make it difficult to move.
Many people with ichthyosis have eczema, which is an itchy red rash.
Complications of ichthyosis
The skin is your body’s barrier; It keeps moisture in itself and prevents the entry of bacteria and pathogenic foreign agents into the body. With ichthyosis, skin parts may become scaly and protective layers may be lost.
Scaling may cause complications, including:
- infection;
- Dehydration;
- Obstruction of sweat glands, which causes an increase in temperature;
- Decreased hair growth in scaly areas of the scalp;
- Burn more calories (the skin works harder to regenerate cells).
It is also possible that ichthyosis causes emotional problems. Skins can affect a person’s appearance. People with this disease sometimes feel depressed and have little self-confidence.
Men with ichthyosis are more likely to develop certain diseases, including:
- testicular cancer ;
- Undescended or hidden testicle;
- Decreased sperm count.
Other complications of ichthyosis
- Decreased vision caused by damage to the cornea (the transparent layer in front of the eye);
- Brain and nervous system problems.
Going to the doctor
A person may need to see one or more specialists to diagnose or treat ichthyosis, including:
- dermatologist;
- genetic specialist;
- optometrist;
- genetic counselor ;
- ear specialist;
- pediatrician;
- General practitioner.
Diagnosis of ichthyosis
Sometimes the symptoms of the disease are so mild that it looks like dry skin. But if dryness and flakes bother you, see a dermatologist for treatment.
The doctor diagnoses the type of ichthyosis by considering some cases, including:
- genetic modification;
- hereditary pattern;
- symptoms such as disease severity or organ involvement;
- Age of the patient at the time of onset of symptoms.
The doctor also does a few things, including:
- He takes a skin sample and observes it under a microscope, which is called a biopsy.
- He prescribes a saliva sample test to check the genetic changes related to a specific type of ichthyosis.
Treatment of ichthyosis
Ichthyosis cannot be cured, and its treatment plan includes preventing skin dryness and peeling. Cream, lotion, and ointment can be used daily to maintain body moisture. For this purpose, use creams rich in lanolin, alpha-hydroxy acid, urea, or polypropylene glycol. Products containing ceramide and cholesterol can also help maintain skin moisture. Also, use lotion immediately after showering while your skin is still wet. This helps to retain moisture.
Other methods of improving ichthyosis
- salt water bath;
- use of pebbles;
- I am cleansing dead cells with salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acid products.
If the dryness and flaking are severe, taking oral retinoid drugs such as acitretin or isotretinoin may be necessary. Retinoids can cause side effects such as bone weakness, dry mouth, or stomach ulcers. Also, according to the type and severity of the disease, the doctor may suggest topical keratolytic, which helps to eliminate the scales. However, this substance can irritate some people, and long-term use may have side effects.
Living with ichthyosis
Ichthyosis is not life-threatening, but it can change it. Therefore, the doctor offers treatments to the person to feel better by improving the appearance of the skin. If a person feels depressed or self-confident, they should talk to a counselor.
A few simple things can also be done to improve the condition, including:
- bathing and increasing skin moisture before using topical materials;
- keeping the air cool to reduce sweating in people who cannot tolerate heat or have a lot of itching;
- Using a humidifier to keep the air moist and prevent skin dryness;
- wearing loose cotton clothes to reduce skin irritation;
- Using fragrance-free detergents and drying agents for sensitive skin;
- Accompanying support groups.
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Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
