Patient's question:
I have been suffering from ichthyosis for over 20 years. As I get older, I really want to cure the disease on my body, but I have searched everywhere without finding a doctor or medicine that can completely cure ichthyosis. My heart has also been very uneasy. Today, I want to ask if there are any new methods for treating ichthyosis recently.Ichthyosis onset and duration: From childhood to now, current condition: General medical history: Never fully cured. Previous diagnosis, treatment history, and effectiveness: Medication and topical treatment. Auxiliary examinations: No improvement, nor have I undergone further tests. Other: Looking for a practical method to truly cure ichthyosis.
Doctor's answer:
Psoriasis currently has no definitive cure, but if patients can enhance skin care and combine it with medication, symptoms can be improved to a certain extent.First, skin care should be strengthened. During dry winter weather, the skin loses moisture more significantly, worsening the condition. Therefore, winter is a key period for care. Consume foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots, cream, sweet potatoes, cod liver oil, green leafy vegetables, and pork liver. Avoid frequent bathing in winter, excessive use of soap, and apply moisturizing oils after bathing to keep the skin soft, reduce scaling, and maintain proper hydration and nutrients. Additionally, pay attention to keeping warm clothing to avoid wind and cold irritation, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. This can make patients more comfortable, alleviate symptoms, and achieve preventive effects.
If the condition remains severe despite the above care, medication treatment should be considered:
(1) Western medicine treatment
① Oral method: Take high doses of vitamin A (10~300,000 IU daily) or vitamin A acid (1 mg/kg daily). However, long-term use may lead to calcium loss in bones, hair loss, and other toxic symptoms.
② External treatment: Apply 10% urea cream, 0.1% vitamin A acid ointment, or 20% cod liver oil ointment, which can help relieve skin dryness, scaling, and cracking.
(2) Traditional Chinese medicine treatment
① Oral method: For blood deficiency and wind-dryness syndrome without a family history, onset in childhood, dry skin, and weak constitution, take Shiquan Dabu Wan combined with Cang Zhu Gao. For blood stasis and blockage syndrome with a family history, onset in childhood, dry and rough skin, cracking, and dark eyes, take Xue Fu Zhu Yu Koufuye.
② External treatment: For blood deficiency and wind-dryness syndrome, grind 60g of almonds into a paste and decoct it for external washing. Then, mix 90g of walnuts and 10g of milk into a paste for external use. For blood stasis and blockage syndrome, decoct 15g of rhubarb, 20g of cinnamon, and 30g of peach kernels for external washing. Then, apply Dang Gui Gao (20g of angelica, 50g of sesame oil, and 6g of beeswax) externally. First, heat the sesame oil, add angelica, and decoct until it becomes (charred). Remove the residue, let it cool, and mix with beeswax to form a paste.