We report on 7 patients with chronic alcohol abuse and ichthyosiform erythroderma. Dry skin (i.e. xerosis cutis) was a striking common feature in all patients who did not present any signs of fluid depletion. Two patients had exclusively exsiccational dermatitis; three had atopic disposition and one nummular eczema of the legs. In another patient a drug allergy could be demonstrated. Xerosis cutis seems to be an important precipitating aetiologic factor for erythroderma, and may be a consequence of alcohol-induced diuresis. All patients recovered rapidly under topical treatment with emollients and low potency steroids. We propose that ichthyosiform erythroderma be added to the known skin diseases caused by chronic alcohol abuse.