sex-linked ichthyosis, a congenital skin disorder characterized by large, thick dry scales with dark color covering the neck, scalp, ears, face, trunk, and flexor surfaces of the body, such as the folds of the arms and the backs of the knees. It is transmitted by females as an X-linked recessive trait and appears only in males. The condition is managed by topical applications of emollients and the use of keratolytic agents to facilitate removal of the scales. Also called X-linked ichthyosis. See also ichthyosis.
