Ichthyosis

The inherited congenital ichthyoses are a heterogeneous group of disorders marked by the common finding of scaly skin. Clinically they are characterized by a wide range of severity, from isolated skin involvement to multiorgan disease.

Acquired ichthyosis develops later in life and can be associated with multiple underlying conditions or medications.

The workup, diagnosis, and treatment vary based on the type of ichthyosis that is suspected by the treating physician.

Ichthyosis is a descriptive term for dry, scaly skin that in some cases may resemble the scales on a fish (ichthys is the Greek root for fish). The inherited ichthyoses are a group of diseases that feature scaling skin as part of their clinical presentation. The underlying defect, mode of inheritance, character, and extent of scaling differ among the various types. Because of these differences, workup and treatment varies depending on the clinical presentation. Ichthyosis can also be acquired as a result of underlying diseases or use of certain medications. [Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: Thick, plate-like scaling of the lower extremity of a patient with ichthyosis vulgarisFrom the collection of Dr Timothy Patton; used with permission [Citation ends].