Ichthyosis Health Dictionary

Ichthyosis: From 3 Different Sources


A rare, inherited condition in which the skin is dry, thickened, scaly, and darker than normal due to abnormal production of keratin. It usually appears at or shortly after birth and improves during childhood. Commonly affected areas are the thighs, arms, and backs of the hands. Lubricants, emulsifying ointments, and bath oils are helpful. icterus A term for jaundice. ICSI See intracytoplasmic sperm injection. id One of the 3 parts of the personality (together with the ego and superego) described by Sigmund Freud. The id is the primitive, unconscious energy store from which come the instincts for food, love, sex, and other basic needs. The id seeks simply to gain pleasure and avoid pain. (See also psychoanalytic theory.)
Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association
A disorder in which the skin is permanently dry and scaly. It is usually genetically determined and several di?erent forms are recognised:

Ichthyosis vulgaris Common and inherited as a dominant trait. Beginning in early childhood, it is often associated with atopic eczema (see DERMATITIS). The limb ?exures and face are spared.

X-linked ichthyosis is much less common, more severe and appears earlier than ichthyosis vulgaris. The ?sh-like scales are larger and darker and do not spare the ?exures and face.

Ichthyosiform erythroderma Of two types and very rare: in the recessive form, the appearance at birth is of the so-called ‘collodion baby’; in the dominant form the baby is born with universally red, moist and eroded skin with an unpleasant smell. Gradually, over several months, thick scales replace the ERYTHEMA.

Treatment Minor forms are helped by constant use of EMOLLIENTS and moisturising applications. Cream containing UREA can be valuable. The rare erythrodermic patterns in the neonate require skilled intensive care as thermoregulation is disturbed and massive ?uid loss occurs through the skin. Later in childhood, oral RETINOIDS are useful.

Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. a genetically determined skin disorder (see genodermatosis) in which there is abnormal scaling of the skin (the scaly condition of the skin is reflected in the name of this disorder, which is derived from the Greek word for fish). Ichthyosis may be caused by a variety of genetic defects in skin shedding; the pattern of scaling varies according to the underlying defect. The commonest form, ichthyosis vulgaris, is inherited as an autosomal *dominant and occurs in 1 in 300 of the population. Lamellar ichthyosis is a very rare condition in which the skin, particularly on the palms and soles, is thickened and lizard-like. Treatment of ichthyosis is mainly by the regular use of emollients. See also xeroderma.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Xeroderma

The term means dry skin. Normal skin may become dry when exposed to very low ambient humidity and is then vulnerable to irritation by soaps, detergents and other chemicals which cause ‘chapping’. Dryness of the skin may also be a feature of skin disease, especially atopic eczema (see ATOPY; DERMATITIS). Genetically determined xeroderma is called ICHTHYOSIS.... xeroderma

Kava Kava

Ava Pepper. Piper methysticum, Forster. German: Kawa pfeffer. French: Kawa. Spanish: Kava kava. Italian: Pepe kava. Parts used: rhizome and root.

Constituents: Pipermethysticine (alkaloid), Pyrone derivative.

Action: antimicrobial with special reference to STDs with mucopurulent discharge, including gonorrhoea. Also effective against Bacillus Coli. Antiseptic stimulant, mild analgesic for painful spasm, antispasmodic, nerve relaxant, diuretic, stimulant, tonic.

Uses: Genito-urinary infections, orchitis, vaginitis, urethritis, Candida, violent itching, ichthyosis, metritis, inflammation of the Fallopian tubes, incontinence in the aged with bladder weakness, infection of kidney, bladder and prostate gland, conditions arising from excess of uric acid, joint pains of rheumatism following STD infection, bed-wetting. A powerful soporific for chronic insomnia, ensuring dreamless sleep with no known ill-effects on rising.

Combinations: with Sarsaparilla for STDs. With Black Cohosh for rheumatism following STDs. Preparations. Average dose: 2-4g. Thrice daily.

Decoction. 1oz to 1 pint (30g to 500ml) water, simmer in gentle heat down to three-quarters volume. Dose: half-1 cup.

Liquid Extract. Half-1 teaspoon in water.

Powder: 2-4g.

Lotion. 1oz powdered root to 8oz glycerine, macerate 8 days, shake daily. External: for pruritus and most forms of intolerable itching. Add 10 drops Oil Eucalyptus for chronic cases. ... kava kava

Etretinate

A drug chemically related to vitamin A, which is used mainly to treat severe psoriasis. It is occasionally used in the treatment of other disorders that cause excessive thickening of the skin, such as ichthyosis.

Etretinate can cause liver damage and a rise in blood fats.

The drug should not be taken during pregnancy because of the risk of damage to the fetus.... etretinate

Salicylic Acid

A keratolytic drug used to treat skin disorders, such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, ichthyosis, acne, warts, and callosities (see callus, skin), and also sometimes to treat fungal infections.

Side effects are few and may include irritation and dryness of the skin.... salicylic acid

Tretinoin

A topical drug that is chemically related to vitamin A and is used to treat acne and certain skin disorders such as ichthyosis. Tretinoin may aggravate acne in the first few weeks of treatment but usually improves the condition within 3–4 months. Possible side effects include irritation, peeling, and discoloration of the skin. Exposure of the skin to sunlight while using tretinoin may aggravate irritation and can lead to sunburn.... tretinoin

Colloidian Baby

the distinctive appearance of a newborn baby that is covered in a shiny membrane, resembling plastic wrap. This is usually the presentation of an underlying chronic skin disorders such as *ichthyosis, although about 10% of colloidian babies have normal underlying skin.... colloidian baby

Filaggrin

n. a filament-associated protein vital for skin barrier function. Mutations in the filaggrin gene have been associated with atopic *eczema, other atopic disease, and *ichthyosis vulgaris.... filaggrin

Genodermatosis

n. any genetically determined skin disorder, such as *ichthyosis, *neurofibromatosis, or *xeroderma pigmentosum.... genodermatosis

Kallmann’s Syndrome

a familial condition that is the most common form of isolated *gonadotrophin deficiency; it is combined with underdevelopment of the olfactory lobes, causing *anosmia. The syndrome is caused by a gene *deletion on the short arm of the X chromosome. Patients often present with delayed puberty. There is an association with *ichthyosis, learning disabilities, obesity, renal and skeletal abnormalities, and undescended testes, but these features are very variable. [F. J. Kallmann (1897–1965), US geneticist]... kallmann’s syndrome

Retinoid

n. any one of a group of drugs derived from vitamin A. They bind to one or more of six specific receptors that are found on many cells. On the skin they act to cause drying and peeling and a reduction in oil (sebum) production. These effects can be useful in the treatment of severe *acne, *psoriasis, *ichthyosis, and other skin disorders. Retinoids include *isotretinoin, *tretinoin, acitretin, tazarotene, and alitretinoin, which is particularly effective for hyperkeratotic hand eczema. Possible side-effects, which may be serious, include severe fetal abnormalities (if taken by pregnant women), toxic effects on babies (if taken by breastfeeding mothers), liver and kidney damage, excessive drying, redness and itching of the skin, and muscle pain and stiffness.... retinoid



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