Is ichthyosis hereditary?

Ichthyosis is a hereditary condition. Its inheritance patterns are varied, primarily including autosomal dominant inheritance, autosomal recessive inheritance, and X-linked inheritance (X-linked recessive inheritance). Ichthyosis vulgaris is a classic example of an autosomal dominant disorder; if one of the parents is affected, each child has a 50% chance of being affected, with equal prevalence in males and females. X-linked ichthyosis predominantly affects males, while females are usually asymptomatic carriers. Additionally, certain types of ichthyosis follow an autosomal recessive pattern, which requires both parents to be carriers of the disease gene, resulting in a 1 in 4 chance of a child being affected. Therefore, individuals with ichthyosis should thoroughly understand its genetic characteristics and seek advice from professional medical geneticists before planning a pregnancy.