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Two brothers are seen during a medical mission in Africa for their dry skin. The clinician recognizes the pattern of X-linked ichthyosis sparing the antecubital fossae of the arms amidst the heavy scales (Figure 171-1). With the help of a translator, the condition is explained to the mother and her boys. It turns out the mother’s father also had the same condition but never received a diagnosis or had any medical care. The suggested treatment is daily emollients and keratolytics.
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Ichthyoses were recently reclassified by consensus with respect to nomenclature and whether they involved organs in addition to the skin (syndromic).1 This chapter addresses four relatively more common ichthyoses pediatricians may encounter: ichthyosis vulgaris, X-linked recessive ichthyosis, epidermolytic ichthyosis, and lamellar ichthyosis. Common features of the ichthyoses include thick, dry skin, various forms and degrees of scaling, cutaneous inflammation, hypohidrosis, and skin fragility. Management is typically symptomatic, attempting to reduce morbidity, and often involves coordinated care with a dermatologist.
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Epidermolytic ichthyosis (EI)—Formerly known as epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK) or bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma (BIE), nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NBIE) or congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE).
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Lamellar ichthyosis—Also known as nonbullous congenital ichthyosis, one of the autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI).
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Ichthyosis vulgaris—A common ichthyosis (Figure 171-2), with approximately 1 in 250 individuals affected.2 Males and females are affected equally.
X-linked recessive ichthyosis—Occurs in approximately 1 in 2000 to 6000 males.3 Because of its frequent occurrence, steroid sulfatase deficiency accounts for most cases of X-linked ichthyosis, but a normal steroid sulfatase level in a male with ichthyosis does not rule out an X-linked pattern of inheritance.4
Epidermolytic ichthyosis (bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma)—Prevalence of approximately 1 in 200,000 to 300,000 persons.5
Lamellar ichthyosis (non-bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma)—The most common form of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (Figure 171-3).6,7
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