What is Ichthyosis? A Video that Explains it All

I think of all the Ichthyosis skin conditions, I am afflicted with the mildest form, I consider myself still fortunate despite how aggravating the "mildest" form is. I cannot begin to fathom the severity and difficulty of living with Ichthyosis of the extreme or rare kind.

There seems to be an Ichthyosis family of genetic skin conditions as discussed in the video below. I'm glad I found this video which got me really aware about the other Ichthyosis types.

If you can't see the video, watch it here - Foundation for Ichthyosis



A video introduction to the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types, Inc. an organization dedicated to educate, inspire, and connect those touched by Ichthyosis and related disorders. Filmed at FIRSTs 2008 National Family Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

No Ichthyosis Flakes on my Baby Bump

My baby is due any day now and my Ichthyosis has been acting up with a vengeance on my thighs and legs. I feel a great tightness around the skin on my legs, I feel like my legs are like sausages about to burst from their casings.



It has spared my preggy belly though, it must be the cocoa butter that's working on overdrive. I've been rubbing supple amounts on my belly and even on the 9th month, I'm not overly plagued by dark stretchmarks or even flaking unlike my first pregnancy. Its a great relief if you ask me :)

Ichthyosis and Pregnancy

My bump is growing bigger and bigger by the day. Unlike my first pregnancy which I looked hideously large, this time I look like a normal-size mom (almost that I don't look preggy at all except for the large belly). I don't have any flaking either. In fact, I have great skin throughout this pregnancy, must be the hormones. My linea negra didn't appear on my belly, my hair is fab, not dry and I have no stretch marks this time.

Unlike before the stretch marks and the flaking would go hand in hand. It looked awful. In between the cellulite, the cracks would appear and the really dry areas would crack open forming little cuts. Similar to diabetic patients when they have cuts on their garter-belt areas near the belly. The pain is tolerable, but just makes the whole pregnancy a bundle of discomfort.

The Ichthyosis Vulgaris during pregnancy is quite bothersome near the legs if you have edema or swelling, the skin stretches and you feel everything so tight around that skin area of the legs (like a sausage stuffed in a tight casing). You see more of your veins underneath and the flakes are drawn out flat because its fully stretched out.

I just hope my second baby, won't have Ichthyosis. A very mild form of it would be a blessing, the way my youngest sister is (just hyperlinear palms and no flaking). My eldest son is also the same no flakes just hyperlinear palms and feet.

But now I'm just stressing over it and I'm really hoping the genetics lottery would be kind to my baby.

Airline bans Woman with Psoriasis from Boarding Flight

Sad, but true. This is the kind of discrimination skin sufferers of genetic conditions such as Psoriasis face.



On March 11, 2010, A professor named Magnolia Mendoza was on her way to Manila but was blocked from boarding the plane by Cebu Pacific because of her Psoriasis. I guess they thought she was contagious.

If I Molt, would you Bolt?

Dating and Ichthyosis was never an issue for me as long as I kept one away from the other. Ha!

Well, if you date a guy long enough, every thing will go beyond skin deep. Eventually you realize some human beings will see you as a real human being and not a walking contagion. I guess I got lucky in that department, the guy didn't bolt when I molted. I think I held the fort long enough to cover my Ichthy past the third date, so I got around to it and told him so.

Okay, so honey, that ain't my dandruff on your shirt, but my skin.

He smiles. So you molt like a snake, so what?

I guess one can never fully realize the sense of relief that comes after. Now when you're beyond the Ichthyosis and whatever other issues. Its time to really focus on the relationship and the more serious and sometimes mind-numbing issues between two human beings like love.

Oh yes, love.

There is enough love in the world for people with Ichthyosis, you just need to get out of your flaky shell and find it :) Goodluck!

Icthyosis Vulgaris on Nipples

I underwent biopsy surgery for a bump on my left breast once. The doctor-interns/residents were arguing that I might have something more because my nipples and areola were flaking and had a thick crust of skin on it that would molt and fall off. It seemed very unusual for a teenager to have back then and was thought to be a troubling sign for other breast conditions. The surgeon told them to shut up, he told them I had Icthyosis Vulgaris. They asked, how did he know? Surgeon says the patient told me so. And he went back to doing the biopsy.

Okay, so I guess its really important to note your medical history whenever you are in treatment for something. Young doctors can't help nitpicking everything they notice on your body.

The Psoriasis Hug Me Campaign of 2009

Old news, but good news nonetheless! Filipino Celebrity Robin Padilla Supported Psoriasis Philippines during the Hug Me Campaign 2009.

This was an event and an active campaign by PsorPhil to raise awarenessin the Philippines that Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. Other celebs giving out hugs include Robi Domingo, Jake Cuenca, and Nancy Castiglione.