Mysterious Skin Disease

[Skin researcher]

Dear Dr. Rockoff:

Please check images at our website to see if you have any idea what might be causing the unknown skin disease we are researching.

The Morgellons Foundation
http://www.morgellons.org/

We are hoping to get detailed microscopy done to look for important clues to this organism.  Thousands of people in the US have reported the unusual symptoms of this disease. California seems to be the state with the highest number of reports.

The symptoms of this skin disease include stinging, pruritic (itchy), non-healing skin lesions.  FIBERS of unknown origin are found deep within skin lesions, and are NOT the result of clothing or environmental fibers. Oils or lotions rubbed into the skin can cause many of these fibers to surface on clean skin.

To study this, we have cleaned skin lesions and determined them to be fiber-free, by  using a handheld microscope (30x Radio Shack). We then covered the lesions with a non fibrous dressing.  When the dressings were removed, the fibers were once again observed to be embedded in the lesions.

We do not believe this is fungal based infection, as antifungals do not clear the lesions, nor the fibers. Antibiotics do not clear the lesions either. Topical steroids and immune-modulating medication, such as Protopic, relieves skin inflammation to a degree, but the condition appears to be chronic.

Please let me know if you have any insight into what is going on here.

Thank you!

Mary

[Skin researcher]

Tut Tut,

You sure sound angry. I cannot imagine what I did to anger you. Nope, I only spent the $19 for posting priveleges one time. I am an honest person and do not post under other guises. Not my style.

In response to me not taking my son to a "real Doctor", we have a real, highly qualified Board certified dermatologist who treats my son. I hardly avoid medical care, as we have seen 5 pediatricians, 2 dermatologists, 2 infectious disease specialists and one allergist. All are stumped.

Please make sure you read accurately. Why so hostile?

[chillipepper]

Uh, AngelStar, did you actually READ the posts between Dr. R and Skin Researcher???!!!  The doctor asked pointed questions in attempting to get to the bottom of this issue.  None of the pointed questions were answered with anything but "I wish I had more answers for you."  He asked for ANY analysis results from the multitude of ANONYMOUS physicians that SR referenced, but wouldn't name.  He was willing to look at any results at all.  The only evidence SR was actually willing to offer was her vision with her $7.99 toy microscope.  He even offered to do FREE tests of his own on any of the 2000 MYSTERY SUFFERERS that SR claims exists.  Of course, not one name was offered and she wasn't even willing to send her son to be evaluated.  This, in itself, is a ridiculous thread and I really only read it for entertainment value.  However, it did waste Doctor R's time and anyone else who really wants to try and get to some answers.  In fact, if you read the verbiage in this thread, several different posters sound an awful lot like Skin Researcher, so I tend to think much of the posting here is from one person alone.

Skin Researcher, if you want to diagnose your son with a $7.99 toy instead of taking him in to a real doctor with years of education and experience (and for FREE!) and sophisticated equipment, then it's not your son that needs the help.

[dkaz]

He may not answer, but he reads. Especially after the lively disussion with Skin Researcher. He will follow this post-er till she's fallen off the bottom of the page. Still, you have to pay the piper before they'll play a tune. Meaning, it cost money to ask a question, that's what this site is based and ran on. Nothing but good ol' American work ethic....Go USA! :-)

[azalia]

When ever there has been a question answered by Dr. Rockoff, you have to start a new post to get your questions answered by him.  He won't answer your question if it's been put in after all these people's comments.  Know what I mean.  Once you guys started putting in comments, he quit reading you guys posts.

[Skin researcher]

Hi,

The best way that I have found to do a search is to go to this site:

www.Google.com

Put your search words into the search box and then click the "search Google" button. you can add more specific words if you want to narrow the search, i.e. if way too many sites come up.

I put these words into the search field:
Cement dermatitis

You could add a third word, to get more specific sites, such as:
Cement dermatitis specialist

or you could try:
Cement dermatitis dermatologist

Lots to read!

Best wishes to you both!
Mary

[flustered]

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) (acute, subacute, chronic)  Portland cement; plaster; lime; epoxies; solvents; other workplace products; abrasive cleaners; alkaline soaps; hand/barrier creams; other personal care products. Skin exam; stinging; burning; pain; itching; blisters; dead skin; scabs; scaling; fissures; redness; swelling; bumps, dry or with watery discharge; usually concentrated where exposure occurs. Diagnostic aids: open application tests; do not patch test to known irritants; do not patch test to unknown chemicals. Skin exam; skin lubrication; antibiotics for infections; astringent soaks; topical or systemic corticosteroids; antihistamines; UV; wash hands at least once before eating or leaving work for the day with pH neutral cleaners; possibly add vinegar to neutralize alkaline wash/rinse water; prevent exposure; proper gloves; long sleeves over gloves; remove work clothes if soaked with wet plaster or epoxy.
This says to avoid lotions with lanoline?  He always uses creams and lotions to soften skin.  Also, Tea Tree, would be good to bathe in?  Are there more web sites with this kind of info?
Thank you so much for the lead!