Dear Ms. Nachman-Srebrnik,

        Sorry, have no idea if breastfeeding would have any particular
benefit for icthyosis, though this baby's problem does not sound
severe.  Icthyosis tends to get better as the child gets older.

        Of course, breastfeeding is good for babies, in general.  There is no
reason to suspect either that breastfeeding could do this baby any
harm.  Getting normal proteins, fats and other compounds such as
epidermal growth factor (the skin is the epidermis), sure won't do him
any harm.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC