Whew! Tazorac. Now, that was an experience.

I thought I was prepared. I read all the National Psoriasis Foundation literature, paid attention to the e-mails I'd received, finally decided, "Hell, why not?" and asked my derm for a prescription.

If you have checked in here over the past three weeks, you may have noticed my Dovonex trial report. (If you're interested, it's in the Archives, under "Dovonex.") That was ... well, "disappointing" is probably the right word. I was about a month past the Dovonex trial when I asked my derm for the Tazorac prescription.

Five days, folks. That's all it took for me to "stand down." Nobody who has written to me about Tazorac has related an experience similar to mine. Perhaps I'm allergic to something in the formula. All I care to relate is, something in the Tazorac made my lesions SCREAM! Not only did they flare, they hurt like hell. This was the first psoriasis medicine I've tried that actually hurt me�hurt as in physical pain, constant burning sensation.

Now, the thing about these non-clinical self-trials is they're inevitably inconclusive. Zero reliability sample of one. Any number of things could have contributed to my reaction to Tazorac. It would be wrong for me to condemn the drug (especially since so many who have written to me praise it). But, on the other hand, if bunches of people came up to me and said, "Ed, I've walked right up to that lion dozens of times and he's never tried to eat me" ... and then I walk up to the lion and he tries to eat me ... am I going to walk up to the lion again? No thanks! But you? Obviously a different story.

It's been about two weeks since I stopped using Tazorac. I've been through my tube of Temovate and am well into my tube of Diprolene and the lesions still haven't recovered. Frankly, my mood is not so cool.

On another matter: Added a new site to the "Other Places" section this month: http://www.psoriasis-dead-sea.org. This is the web home of the Dead Sea Psoriasis & Arthritis Treatment Foundation of America. It's headed up by Ben Freeman and is worth a look if you have ever wondered about Dead Sea climatotherapy for your P.

The objective of the Foundation is to raise money for grants to help people travel to Israel for this therapy. Ben's site has a lot of information about the place, the treatments, and accompanying photos. I, personally, have never heard a single argument against the efficacy of this climatotherapy. It does seem to work. But it is obviously more than the salt contents of the sea, and more than the uniquely filtered sunlight at this naturally-below-sea level inland body of water, because (I am told) all of these have been replicated for export without the same levels of effectiveness. Dead Sea climatotherapy appears to lend new meaning to the old phrase, "you gotta be there."

Well ... kids are going back to school in a couple of weeks and U.S. Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. All of which signals the passing of another summer and the nearness of my favorite time of year�Fall! Soon I'll be opening that sweater closet and that suits me just fine! Have a good month, you all! -Ed