hello. thank you for writing to us. Ichthyosis literally means fish like and it refers to the type of scaling seen in ichthyosis. ichthyosis can be genetic or acquired. Genetic ichthyosis is due to a gene mutation that impairs the normal function of epidermal barrier. The inheritance of this defective gene mutation may be autosomal dominant or recessive. Icthyosis vulgaris(IV) e.g is caused by autosomal dominant filaggrin gene mutation and X- linked recessive icthyosis(XLRI) by X linked recessive steroid sulphatase mutation. These are the two most common types of ichthyosis. Apart from these other types of ichthyosis like Lamellar ichthyosis(LI), Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma(CIE), Non bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma(NBIE) are rarer but more severe. Goal of treatment in genetic ichthysosis is to keep the disease severity under control i.e it is palliative. There is no permanent cure for genetic ichthyosis. Treatment includes topical urea, lactic acid, salicylic acid based moisturizers. Oral treatment is with Oral retinoids e.g acitretin for thick keratotic involvement of skin. There is a lot of research particularly gene based research that is going on and it may be possible in future to correct the genetic defect responsible in ichthyosis. regards