What are the symptoms of ichthyosis

The occurrence of ichthyosis can manifest itself in some skin conditions in various parts of the body, such as scaling or desquamation of the skin, abnormal dryness of the skin, and sometimes chapped skin, causing pain and bleeding.

1. First, a small amount of dry scales appear on the back and extensor side of the limbs. Subsequently, scaling may also appear on the abdomen and extensor side of the limbs. The scales are polygonal and diamond-shaped, with upturned edges and sticky centers, looking like fish scales, hence the name. Patients often have dry skin all over their body, especially on the lower limbs. There is usually no damage to the folds of the armpits, groin, popliteal fossa, elbows, etc. There are also mild similar lesions on the scalp and periphery of the face. When the temperature rises in spring and summer and the relative humidity increases, the scales fall off and the skin becomes smooth. When autumn and winter come, the disease recurs. The disease tends to get worse with age. After puberty, the symptoms may be alleviated due to the active functions of sebaceous glands and sweat glands, but they will not disappear completely and will accompany you for life.

2. Another manifestation of this disease is the appearance of follicular keratotic papules on the extensor side of the upper arms and thighs, and even on the cheeks. When the lesions form patches, they feel like a file. The patient has many, messy and deep palm and plantar lines. The palms and soles of the feet have varying degrees of hyperkeratosis, and even form very thick keratinous plaques, which often cause cracks in the palms and soles in winter, causing pain.

3. At birth or a few weeks after birth, the skin becomes widely flushed and covered with a very thick layer of brown-yellow keratin. This keratinous substance can break into polygonal scales, and the skin underneath the scales is moist. Shallow red cracks form between the scales, distributed along the skin texture, and bloody fluid oozes out of the cracks with a peculiar odor. On the flexed sides of the limbs, wrinkles and other areas prone to friction, keratinous scales accumulate very thickly, giving them a wart-like appearance. Prone to bacterial infection. There are often ectropion, corneal malnutrition, photophobia, excessive keratinization of the palms and soles, nail loss or thickening of the nail plate. A small number of patients are short in stature, accompanied by mental retardation and other developmental abnormalities.

4. Severe cases often result in death in infancy due to secondary bacterial infection, malnutrition, etc. In a few patients with mild symptoms, the skin lesions may gradually decrease with age, and blisters will no longer occur, leaving only a small amount of wart-like lesions in the wrinkles.