Channel 4 TV Medical Episode Embarrassing Bodies: Ichthyosis

I found this video from Google. Okay I am definitely not a big fan of the show's title Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies.

Ichthyosis is hard enough to deal with and sure we feel 'embarrassed' by it. However, the show's title is a shame. Okay after watching the episode, I'm glad it was very straightforward medical show and not a fussy freak-of-the-week thing. I actually like the treatment they presented.

A note from the show: The treatment given to this patient was a combination of Cetraben, Culmurid and Eucerin and then a cling film wrap, but it might not work for everyone so best to go to your GP and get their professional opinion.

Eucerin I've heard before, but not Cetraben. Glad to hear about something new. What amazed me is that the woman's leg had bigger patches of flakes. My flakes are usually 'grouped' smaller. Hers are like countries on a map while mine are like island patches. But surprisingly when she removed the cling film and I saw the pores (the chicken-like pores on her skin) I couldn't help but say 'Whoa! those are my legs!' They pretty look much like my legs after a bath.

Thoughts on Ichthyosis: A Mother Worries

It has been a year today since I gave birth. I knew the very same day that my newborn had hints of Ichthyosis on his skin. Hubby told me it was too soon to tell. But I knew. When I held my baby he had the softest skin, yet he had too many lines on the soles of his tiny feet and his little fingers had deep lines already.


I wasn't sad, I braced myself for this, but I was worried. I can live with the thought of my son having hyperlinear palms, hyperlinear feet and deep lines on his neck. I am at least hoping he won't have the flaking and the severe shedding that I have. I was hoping that he would take after his father- dark skinned and hairy with no Ichthyosis in sight.

Due to Ichthyosis, I have no hairs on my legs, the hairs are curled up stuck inside the pores which makes my skin look like "prickly chicken skin with dandruff" on most days. I do not wish for my baby, the ridicule I endured because of this skin condition. I do not wish for him, the itchiness, the soreness of the skin on cold months or spending days fully covered, hiding his hands away from the world. I guess any mom with a rare genetic skin condition would wish the best for her child. Well, it has been a year, so far no flakes on my little baby. I hope it stays that way.