Why is the skin of ichthyosis patients so dry

When autumn and winter come, many people with ichthyosis apply the body lotion heavily. But their skin is still dry, flaky and tight. The problem is not a lack of water. Ordinary skincare products only work on the skin surface.

Ichthyosis comes from abnormal FLG genes. The keratinocytes deep in skin cannot produce filaggrin normally. Filaggrin plays two key roles in skin. First, it works with keratin to build the "brick wall" structure of the stratum corneum and keep skin stable. Later, it breaks down slowly to make natural moisturizing factors and hold water in skin.

Without enough filaggrin, this brick wall collapses. The supply of moisturizing materials stops, and the skin barrier gets damaged at its root. Regular body lotions and creams only stay on the outermost skin layer. They moisturize surface keratin temporarily. They cannot reach deep skin layers, nor help cells make filaggrin and keratin.

They cannot fix gene expression or supply cell energy to repair the broken brick-wall barrier. Tretinoin and steroid creams only peel off dead skin cells. Oral medicines carry strong side effects. None of these solve the root cause. That is why skin quickly goes back to dry and flaky in cold autumn and winter.

To improve the condition, you need more than adding and locking moisture. You also need to support the whole skin metabolic process. Deliver nutrients through the epidermis, supply oxygen and energy for skin cells, activate filaggrin production, and guide orderly metabolism to create moisturizing factors. Rebuild the keratin brick-wall barrier first. When skin regains its natural ability to retain water and resist irritation, it will not crack and peel easily again.