Lamellar Ichthyosis—Skin Conditions

Also called: Cutaneous disorders, Dermatologic disorders

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It covers and protects your body. Your skin

• Holds body fluids in, preventing dehydration
• Keeps harmful microbes out, preventing infections
• Helps you feel things like heat, cold, and pain
• Keeps your body temperature even
• Makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it

Anything that irritates, clogs, or inflames your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning, and itching. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup, and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause rashes, hives, and other skin conditions. Many skin problems, such as acne, also affect your appearance.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Acrodermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cryotherapy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cutaneous skin tags (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Dry skin — self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Erythema multiforme (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Granuloma annulare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Keratosis pilaris (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lichen planus (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Milia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Sebaceous cyst (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Seborrheic keratosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin lesion removal (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin lesion removal-aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Stasis dermatitis and ulcers (Medical Encyclopedia)

Lamellar ichthyosis is a condition that mainly affects the skin. Infants with this condition are typically born with a tight, clear sheath covering their skin called a collodion membrane. This membrane usually dries and peels off during the first few weeks of life, and then it becomes obvious that affected babies have scaly skin, and eyelids and lips that are turned outward. People with lamellar ichthyosis typically have large, dark, plate-like scales covering their skin on most of their body. Infants with lamellar ichthyosis may develop infections, an excessive loss of fluids (dehydration), and respiratory problems. Affected individuals may also have hair loss (alopecia), abnormally formed fingernails and toenails (nail dystrophy), a decreased ability to sweat (hypohidrosis), an increased sensitivity to heat, and a thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (keratoderma). Less frequently, affected individuals have reddened skin (erythema) and joint deformities (contractures).