Do I Have Ichthyosis Vulgaris?

Do you have a family history of ichthyosis vulgaris?

Do you have dry, scaly skin?

Do you have tile-like, small scales?

Do you have scales colored white, dirty gray or brown?

Do you have weak, "mosaic lines" between the Achilles tendons and the calf muscles?

Do you have flaky scalp?

Do you have deep, painful cracks on your palms and soles?

Do you have scaly patches on your lower legs, fine white scales on the forearms and upper arms, and rough palms?

Do you have the scales that may be especially thick and dark over your shins?

Do you have itchy skin?

Do you have rough bumps on your arms, thighs, and buttocks?

Do you have symptoms that are usually more pronounced in a cold, dry environment and tend to improve or even resolve in warm, humid environments?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have ichthyosis vulgaris. Ichthyosis vulgaris is an inherited disorder that is characterized by slowing down the natural process of skin shedding and excessive accumulation of dead cells on the skin surface. Ichthyosis vulgaris is caused by a gene mutation. A mutated gene can be inherited from one or both parents. People who inherit one defective gene usually have a mild form of the disease, while those with two defective genes have a more severe form of ichthyosis vulgaris. People with this disorder have normal skin at birth, and the symptoms develop later in life.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have ichthyosis vulgaris. Ichthyosis vulgaris is an inherited skin condition characterized by excessive accumulation of dead cells on the surface of your skin in the form of thick, dry scales. Ichthyosis vulgaris is also known as a fish scale disease. Mild cases of ichthyosis vulgaris can be mistaken for extremely dry skin. The severity of symptoms can vary from one person to another, even among members of the same family. People with this condition have more intense symptoms in a cold, dry environment. A diagnosis is based on a skin examination and several tests including a skin biopsy.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have ichthyosis vulgaris. Ichthyosis vulgaris is a skin disorder characterized by dry scaly skin. The most common form of ichthyosis is hereditary, although there is a rare form of the disease that is not inherited and is called acquired ichthyosis. The condition is not life threatening but can have a negative effect on your social life due to the unusual looking skin. Ichthyosis vulgaris cannot be cured. The treatment goal is to manage the symptoms. Treatment includes exfoliating creams and ointments, which can help control scaling and increase skin moisture, as well as oral medications.