Use of Two Combination Creams for the Treatment of Ichthyosis and Ichthyosiform Disorders

Abstract Background. Treatment options for Ichthyosis and Ichthyosiform disorders are limited and often unsatisfactory. Topical cholesterol and statin have been previously used with good results. Objective. To assess the change in the disease severity score after a therapeutic regimen consisting of two combination creams: 2% cholesterol with 2% lovastatin, and 10% glycolic acid with 0.025% tretinoin and 2% ketoconazole. Methods. This study was conducted at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between March 2019 and March 2020. Pregnant women were excluded. The combination creams were used daily or as tolerated by the patients. Results. 24 patients completed the study. The median age was 7.5 years. The average percent reductions in the severity scores were 40% at 1 month (n=20), 44.8% at 2 months (n=18), and 60.3% at 3 months (n=10). Side effects consisted mainly of mild irritation which resolved upon altering the frequency of application. Limitations. Limitations of our study include the relatively small number of participants (due to the rarity of such diseases), the subjective nature of some of the scoring criteria, and the inconsistent follow-up times. Conclusion. These findings suggest a benefit from these two combination creams in the treatment of Ichthyosis and Ichthyosiform disorders.