BMJ  2007;334:953-954 (5 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39184.615150.802

Practice

Psoriasis

Ray Jobling, chairman

Psoriasis Association, 7 Milton Street, Northampton NN2 7JG

rgj1000@cam.ac.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

In 1955, I was 14 years old and just diagnosed with psoriasis. I didn't know it then of course, but it would never go away. Psoriasis and its treatment were to be part of my life for the next 50 years and more.

My general practitioner gave it no name, but said it was common and could just go away. He said I might "grow out of it" and that I should get used to it, "learn to live with it." This attitude scarcely prompted confidence in his prescribed tar ointments and baths—as noxious and loathsome in use as they were ineffective in action. He seemed unsurprised that I returned worse rather than better. By now the pink patches were large, numerous, and widespread. My body looked like an old map of the British Empire. The lesions grew fiery, scaled profusely, and crumbled messily. They bled; I looked and felt . . . [Full text of this article]

A doctor's perspective

Resources


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Where the patient is
Douglas Kamerow
BMJ 2007 334: 0. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Psoriasis. Can oral lesions be a common sign of the disease?
Eduardo E. Castillo-Betancourt MDD, et al.
bmj.com, 8 May 2007 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ