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PsorChat
| PsorChat Review | ©2004 Ed
Dewke
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About
Tattoos and Giving P to One’s Kids I
did suffer from a heavy annual strep throat as a child then had no
infections until 2 years ago when the annual affliction re-appeared.
Reading some of your archives on this topic has made me reconsider
tonsillectomy. My sister has
recently had, for the first time ever, a guttate full body outbreak after
a difficult childbirth experience. Hers
seems to be on the wane after PUVA treatment. I
do have a couple of questions if you or anyone else has time... I
am considering a tattoo but slightly apprehensive about Koebner phenomenon.
I did have a scar after a cycle accident that turned p'iatic but has
subsequently cleared up. Advise
about the tat? I
have two children, both girls aged 1 and 3 (angels the pair of them). What
are their chances of avoiding
P? Love
the site especially the glossary! A
perfect example of the "content is king" principle. –John F. ***** Ed’s
Response: Thanks for writing,
John. Let me mention at the
onset that, as a web site producer, I’ve always feared receiving a
communiqué that starts “I’m a graphic designer.”
FlakeHQ is an avocation for me, but in my professional life I am a
REAL media producer who works with graphic designers.
Those GDs who work with me never hesitate to tell me that I am NOT
a graphic designer and I would be well-advised not to let anybody mistake
me for one. A few of these GD
colleagues of mine have actually glimpsed FlakeHQ and politely changed the
subject. As GDs go, you should
receive some sort of award for diplomacy.
Your last line will be dear to me forever:
“A perfect example of the ‘content is king’ principle.”
Meanwhile, if readers want to see what a well-designed web site
looks like, go here: http://www.cobrabeer.com.
(John works for Cobra Beer.) Now, to your
questions, John. In general, I
think most derms and fellow flakers would tell you a tattoo isn’t a good
idea. This is probably because
the Koebner Phenomenon is a very individualized proclivity and if you
can’t define how likely you are to “Koebnerize,” it’s best to
assume the worst. But,
generalizations aside, if you’ve searched on “tattoo” here you’ve
already heard from flakers who have had no problems with tattoos.
You’ve had some experience with Koebner as a result of the
cycling injury, so you know you do manifest the phenomenon.
You have two throws of the dice:
first, will a tattoo Koebnerize on you?
Two, how long would a lesion at the tat site last?
I can’t roll for you, John. But
I’d say, “If it were me, I’d buy a new watchband.”
(Or, beings that I’m from Kentucky, perhaps I’d buy a new belt
buckle. Point being, no tats
for me.) With regard to
your daughters’ chances of becoming flakers, we know (because you’ve
told us) that the disease appears to be a genetic proclivity in your
family; however, half your daughters’ DNA is coming from outside the
family (a safe assumption?). Current
thinking is that a combination of genes cause the disease and, on top of
these genes, certain environmental conditions must “trigger” the
disease to manifest. All of
this suggests that simple probability for your daughters weighs slightly
heavier in favor of them remaining flake-free.
Having said that, no one would be too surprised if one or both of
them flaked to some degree. Your
precise question was, “What are their chances of avoiding P?”
The precise answer would be slight.
If they are not wired genetically to get the disease they won’t.
If the wiring does exist in them, they might get the disease
(depending on what triggers them and whether or not they pull those
triggers). The irony there
is that most people don’t know what triggers their P.
Those that do know, only learn AFTER it happens.
Good luck to you and your daughters. If I were still an imbiber, I’d be looking for an ice-cold Cobra about now. -Ed www.flakehq.com |