His P is Embarrassing but Not Debilitating
from Ron A.

Ed, I'll make this short and sweet.  Your concept of the “FlakeHQ Interview” is a great idea; and frankly, you are going to have a tough time improving upon this first one!  Really a great interview with Michael Paranzino.  Good information.  Keep up the great work!

A quick history on me for your records:  I am a 48 year old man; and I have the typical plaque lesions on my hands, elbows, knees, and an occasional spot elsewhere that comes and goes.  I have had P for at least 25 years.  Having read your site for years now, I can recognize many symptoms and stories from your other readers.  (I thought I was the only one who sanded my hands!)  I also recognize that my P is relatively mild; and is mostly embarrassing, not debilitating.

Through trial-and-error, I have settled on a routine of Dovonex and OTC topical hydrocortisone creams that seems to keep things manageable.  A petrolatum-based version of this cream at night with the “food handlers” gloves is essential for me.  Environment and stress seem to play a part; but I have never noticed a hard-and-fast pattern to flares or good periods.

I have learned a lot from your website.  You are providing a valuable service!  Bless you, and keep doing what you are doing!

Regards, -Ron A.

*****

Ed’s Response:  Thanks for the praise and well-wishes, Ron.  I’ve got interviews lined up through the Sep-Oct update but can’t reveal the subjects until those interviews are “in the can.”  I hope the resulting articles will live up to your expectations. 

I had to chuckle when I read you thought you were the only flaker who sanded his hands.  I still get email that makes me have similar thoughts.  There’s something about our disease that makes us feel inhibited.  Ashamed?  Well, probably not.  I think it has more to do with thinking people will find us foolish or “weird.”  For example:  Sometimes I wear a shower cap to bed to occlude psoriasis medicine on my scalp, and the supply of shower caps that “look masculine” is very limited.  So, sometimes I wear a pink shower cap with a white flower blossom pattern on it.  Did I really want anybody else to know that?

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