Ichthyosis

Research Progress Related to Ichthyosis

Researchers are studying ichthyosis to better understand the cause of the disease and to find better treatments, in hopes to better diagnose the disease, control its symptoms, and someday potentially cure the disorder.

Research topics include:

• Studying and identifying the genes linked to ichthyosis and their effect on the skin.
• Understanding the role of the hair follicle and how it is disrupted in severe forms of ichthyosis.
• Researching new treatments for the disorder, including topical, oral, or injected medications, or potentially designing newer genetic therapies.
• Looking at the normal development of the skin for clues as to how tissue development goes wrong to cause diseases like ichthyosis.

The National Registry for Ichthyosis and Related Disorders voluntarily identifies people with ichthyosis and other related disorders to collect information about their skin disorder and how it has affected them. Patients currently are being enrolled by a research team at Yale University. The registry provides crucial information to health care providers and scientists.