National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Ichthyosis vulgaris



Other Names:
Ichthyosis simplex; Common ichthyosis; Fish scale disease
Categories:

Ichthyosis vulgaris is a common skin disorder passed down through families that leads to dry, scaly skin.  It often begins in early childhood. Treatment may include heavy duty moisturizers which contain chemicals that help the skin to shed normally, including lactic acid, salicylic acid, and urea. Ichthyosis vulgaris can be a nuisance, but it rarely affects overall health. The condition usually disappears during adulthood, but may return in later years. This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.[1]
Last updated: 10/18/2013

The main characteristic is dry, rough, scaly skin. The skin over the legs is most commonly affected, but other areas such as the arms, hands, and middle of the body may also be involved. Persons with this condition may also have many fine lines over the palm of the hand.[1]
Last updated: 10/18/2013

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Asthma 0002099
Eczematoid dermatitis 0000976
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Ichthyosis 0008064
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Ichthyosis vulgaris is caused by a genetic mutation. The mutated gene causes an abnormality in the normal lifecycle of skin. Whilst in most people, the growth, dying and shedding of skin happens unnoticed, people with ichthyosis reproduce new skin cells at a rate faster than they can shed it, or reproduce at a normal rate but the rate of shedding is too slow. Either way there is a build up of dry scaly skin. The mutated gene in ichthyosis vulgaris is found on chromosome 1q21 and is related to a protein called filaggrin.[2] To learn more about the protein filaggrin please click here.
Last updated: 10/18/2013

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

While there's no known cure for ichthyosis, there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms. Medications may include: [3]
  1. Creams and ointments containing alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid and glycolic acid that help to control scaling of the skin and increase skin moisture.
  2. Retinoids to reduce the production of skin cells.
  3. Antibiotics to treat secondary infections.
Last updated: 10/18/2013

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Ichthyosis vulgaris. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Ichthyosis vulgaris. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Ichthyosis vulgaris:
    The National Registry for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Disorders
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • DermNetNZ provides information on ichthyosis in general. DermNetNZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Ichthyosis vulgaris. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Ichthyosis vulgaris. MedlinePlus. May 2011; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001451.htm. Accessed 1/24/2013.
  2. Ichthyosis. DermNet NZ. January 2013; http://www.dermnetnz.org/scaly/ichthyosis.html. Accessed 1/24/2013.
  3. Ichthyosis vulgaris. Mayo Clinic. October 2012; http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ichthyosis-vulgaris/DS00734/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs. Accessed 1/24/2013.