Differences in Skin Structure of Ichthyosis Patients

While the epidermis of an average person consists of four layers, patients with ichthyosis have only two

The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis; in a healthy person, it is divided into four layers from top to bottom: the stratum corneum, the stratum granulosum, the stratum spinosum, and the stratum basale. Skin cells begin their growth and development from the stratum basale, progressing through the stratum spinosum and the stratum granulosum until reaching the stratum corneum where they undergo normal cell death; this entire process normally takes 28 days.

However, due to genetic defects affecting skin metabolism, cells in the stratum basale of ichthyosis patients lack the nutrients needed for proper growth and development. Instead, they skip the stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum entirely, moving straight to the stratum corneum as dead cells that adhere tightly to the skin's surface—a process taking only 3 to 5 days. This rapid turnover is the reason for the constant accumulation of scales on the skin of ichthyosis patients.

How often do you need to clear away the scales on your skin?