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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
biopsy and where to go with skin problem
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
biopsy and where to go with skin problem
by Maria Thomas, Aug 01, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Sir,
I have read some of your answers and very much appreciate the work you do.
My questions are:
1. My skin biopsy shows that the skin has the chemical wich causes itching. Is there anything else the biopsy could've revealed?
2. Where should someone go with a skin disease which is infectious and not known?
My skin has been itching since the summer of 1996. Every single day. (Only Diflucan reduced the intensity of the itching). Some doctors say it's seasonal allergy, some say it's food allergy. One diagnosed scabies.
But I cannot have any of those. I have "Cowden disease"-like cobblestones in my mouth, lips, neck, chest and legs, face. And worst of all I infect others. I should not live or should live segregated from people.
I used to have ringworms on my hands and they of course also used to itch very much. So I always keep on thinking maybe I just have a new kind of fungus or in my body the ring fungus developed a new mutations which has never been heard of.
Doctors do not believe that I infect others. But in a few months a friend of mine will visit me from Denmark. We have the same disease. If a doctor could see us together he/she would see that it is really an infectious disease.
I don't have insurance but I always pay. Even when I was misdiagnosed having scabies (2 doctors told me afterward that I do not have scabies).
I grew up in the mountains, I have never had any diseases besides that ring fungus and occasional little colds.
I do apologize for the very long post. This is the last thing I though I would try. One cannot keep on going from one doctor to another.
I thank you very much for your time and patience.
Sincerely,
Maria Thomas
I have read some of your answers and very much appreciate the work you do.
My questions are:
1. My skin biopsy shows that the skin has the chemical wich causes itching. Is there anything else the biopsy could've revealed?
2. Where should someone go with a skin disease which is infectious and not known?
My skin has been itching since the summer of 1996. Every single day. (Only Diflucan reduced the intensity of the itching). Some doctors say it's seasonal allergy, some say it's food allergy. One diagnosed scabies.
But I cannot have any of those. I have "Cowden disease"-like cobblestones in my mouth, lips, neck, chest and legs, face. And worst of all I infect others. I should not live or should live segregated from people.
I used to have ringworms on my hands and they of course also used to itch very much. So I always keep on thinking maybe I just have a new kind of fungus or in my body the ring fungus developed a new mutations which has never been heard of.
Doctors do not believe that I infect others. But in a few months a friend of mine will visit me from Denmark. We have the same disease. If a doctor could see us together he/she would see that it is really an infectious disease.
I don't have insurance but I always pay. Even when I was misdiagnosed having scabies (2 doctors told me afterward that I do not have scabies).
I grew up in the mountains, I have never had any diseases besides that ring fungus and occasional little colds.
I do apologize for the very long post. This is the last thing I though I would try. One cannot keep on going from one doctor to another.
I thank you very much for your time and patience.
Sincerely,
Maria Thomas
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Aug 03, 2000 12:00AM
, Aug 03, 2000 12:00AM
Maria:
I'm afraid I cannot shed very much light on your condition. It certainly does not sound contagious. To be frank, the quality of your itch, and its resistance to diagnosis, suggest that its roots are more psychological than physical. Rather than seek medical diagnoses which are likely not to exist, you might do better looking into the reasons you feel infected when you are not, or live segregated from other people when you don't need to be.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
I'm afraid I cannot shed very much light on your condition. It certainly does not sound contagious. To be frank, the quality of your itch, and its resistance to diagnosis, suggest that its roots are more psychological than physical. Rather than seek medical diagnoses which are likely not to exist, you might do better looking into the reasons you feel infected when you are not, or live segregated from other people when you don't need to be.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
