ichthyosis

American  

[ik-thee-oh-sis] / ˌɪk θiˈoʊ sɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. a hereditary skin disease in which the epidermis continuously flakes off in large scales or plates.

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ichthyosis British  

/ ˌɪkθɪˈɒtɪk, ˌɪkθɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Also called: xeroderma.  Nontechnical name: fishskin disease.  a congenital disease in which the skin is coarse, dry, and scaly

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Other Word Forms

• ichthyotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ichthyosis

From New Latin, dating back to 1805–15; see origin at ichthy-, -osis

Example Sentences

Information on ichthyosis can be found at firstskinfoundation.org.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2016

“You must be wondering about my appearance. It’s not contagious. I just have problem skin. It’s called ichthyosis and I was born with it.”

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2016

I’m supposed to tell them what’s going on: ichthyosis comes from a recessive gene, like blue eyes.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2016

I have lamellar ichthyosis, a genetic disorder which manifests itself in scales not just on my face, arms, hands — which she could see — but over my whole body.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2016

The harlequin fetus, of which there are specimens in Guy's Hospital, London Hospital, and the Royal College of Surgeons Museum, is the result of ichthyosis congenita.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)