Acquired ichthyosis is a skin disorder characterized by chronic, dry, and thickened fish scale-like skin that usually appears in adults who have an underlying systemic disease, such as Hodgkin lymphoma, hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone), sarcoidosis (granulomatous disease), cancer, or an HIV infection. While the cause is unknown acquired ichthyosis may occur with the use of certain medications, such as hydroxyurea, kava, nicotinic acid, and targeted cancer therapies, such as protein kinase inhibitors, vemurafenib, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Symptoms of acquired ichthyosis usually affect the arms, abdomen, and legs and may include chronic, dry, and thickened fish scale-like skin that causes excessive lines on the palms, keratosis pilaris (dry, rough skin bumps), and may be associated with atopic eczema, an underlying disease, cancer, or occur in individuals who are taking a drug know to cause dry skin.

Treatment for acquired ichthyosis mainly focuses on soothing, protecting, and improving the skin condition by using non-soap body washes, bathing in salt water, and using an exfoliating sponge and moisturizing creams containing urea, salicylic acid, or alpha hydroxy acids. Severe acquired ichthyosis may be treated with oral retinoids, such as acitretin and isotretinoin, oral antibiotics for bacterial skin infection, and Vitamin D supplementation.