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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffSometimes called fish scale disease or fishskin disease, ichthyosis vulgaris is an inherited skin disorder that causes dead skin cells to accumulate in thick, dry scales on the skin's surface. These scales can be present at birth, but usually first appear in early childhood. Sometimes ichthyosis vulgaris disappears entirely for most of the adult years, only to return later.
Though most cases are mild, some cases of ichthyosis vulgaris are severe. No cure has been found and treatments are directed at controlling the signs and symptoms.
