Daily Skin Care
Frequent bathing has been shown to help reduce the complications for ichthyosis. Don’t forget to check out FIRST’s private Facebook groups for ideas and support. In Facebook, search for “FIRST Ichthyosis” and all of FIRST’s private Facebook groups will come up. Request to join the group(s) that you qualify for.
At this phase, meeting affected adults at FIRST conferences and one day meet-ups can also be helpful for practical advice and serve as a powerful visual of what lies ahead.
For those affected by ichthyosis, frequent bathing is extremely important, as it is not only the best way, but the most natural way to remove dry scales and skin, and most importantly, more frequent bathing can ease the distress of ichthyosis, making day to day life much more comfortable.
Many patients with ichthyosis, despite their best attempts at personal hygiene, become colonized by an overgrowth of bacteria, yeasts, or fungi that can cause an unpleasant odor. The primary reason we recommend bleach baths is their ability to reduce the amount of odoriferous colonization by potentially pathogenic microbes on the skin surface.
Just as the skin sloughs off on areas that you can see, it also sheds inside the ear. For people with ichthyosis the skin shed inside the ear canal can combine with wax and form a solid material. This solid material may itch or smell and may cause a reduction in hearing. Never attempt to remove this solid material yourself. Have your hearing checked regularly, and discuss ways to keep the ear free from build-up from the shedding skin.
Products containing urea, lactic acid or other alpha-hydroxy acids seem to help some individuals with ichthyosis. Some people get relief from pure lanolin, which is easier to spread when mixed with water.
Applying lotion and creams to wet skin seems to work better than putting them on dry skin. The lotion tends to trap the moisture.
