What is snakeskin?

Snakeskin is ichthyosis, a common skin disease, also called pityriasis.

Clinically, ichthyosis vulgaris has three main characteristics.

First, the skin lesions are polygonal or diamond-shaped like "fish scales" or "snakeskin", with the middle attached and the edge upturned, which is the most common in front of the calf. The extension of limbs is more serious than the flexion, and there is often nothing abnormal in armpit, elbow fossa, popliteal fossa, groin and other relatively humid places. The exfoliated dander is generally white. The patient's skin is dry and itchy in severe cases.

Second, hair follicle keratinizing papules generally appear on the extended side of the upper arm and thigh, sometimes on the cheeks. When it is light, it looks like pores are thicker, and each pore is a small point. In severe cases, these points will become obvious. If they appear together, they will look like a file.

Third, the hand lines and foot lines are many, deep and messy, the skin of palms and soles is rough, and even thick horny patches are formed, which are easy to crack in dry environment and cause pain. It usually happens a few months after birth, before the age of 5, adolescence is the most serious, and then gradually relieves. Warm and humid summer will ease, and cold and dry winter will intensify.

Sex-linked inheritance:

Sexually linked ichthyosis vulgaris is rare. Because the gene of this disease is on the X chromosome, it is only found in men, and it can occur after birth or in infancy. The skin lesions are slightly different from the upper type, and the scales are large and obvious, which are yellowish brown or dirty black scales. The skin is dry and rough, often all over the body, and armpits, cubital fossa and other parts can also be involved, especially the abdomen is heavier than the back.

If the face is involved, it is generally limited to the front of the ear and the side of the face, and hair follicle keratinization does not occur. Palmar and plantar skin is normal, and skin lesions do not decrease with age, but sometimes increase sharply. As a carrier of this disease, women generally don't get sick, and sometimes they only see thin scales on their forearms and calves. There may be small cloudy spots on the posterior wall and posterior elastic membrane of cornea, which will not affect vision.

Sex-linked ichthyosis vulgaris is slightly different from the upper type, with large and obvious scales, yellowish brown or dirty black scales, dry and rough skin, often all over the body, armpits, elbow fossa and other parts can also be involved, and the abdomen is particularly heavy than the back. If the face is involved, it is generally limited to the front of the ear and the side of the face, and hair follicle keratinization does not occur.

Palmar and plantar skin is normal, and skin lesions do not decrease with age, but sometimes increase sharply. As a carrier of this disease, women generally don't get sick, and sometimes they only see thin scales on their forearms and calves. There may be small cloudy spots on the posterior wall and posterior elastic membrane of cornea, which will not affect vision.

Refer to Baidu Encyclopedia for the above content? Ichthyosis vulgaris