To anyone who's ever used insults like "Spotty!" "Cooties!" "It's the Itchy and Scratchy Show!" "Scabby!" and so on...
...having chronic skin disabilities is like having corrosive acid dripped slowly on your skin, with the knowledge that it will continue until the day you die. It's knowing that every bee sting will become an infected abscess and leave a scar. It's not being able to exercise because overheating triggers a reaction.

It's having over two hours of medical treatment per day. It's taking pills that make you too tired to think, because that's better than being in pain. It's wearing long sleeved tops in summer and not being allowed to wear waterproof clothes when it rains in case they "sweat". It's avoiding make-up and beauty treatments because they set off a reaction. It's not being able to hug your mum, or your brother, or your friends, without knowing that it will hurt.

I know you think these are just words, but every time you make a joke out of a medical condition you're telling that person that every tortuous minute they experience, every time they make their disease worse in an attempt to appear normal, every time they flinch from someone touching them, is something that exists to amuse you. You're reminding them of something that, perhaps for a few simple moments, they've managed to forget. And these moments are all we get.

Not funny, but today I don't care. Sorry all. x
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Sat 6 Mar 2010, 23:27, 8 replies)

I sympathise -
Having ichthyosis myself. Vastly improved on what is was thanks goodness. I wouldn't wish it on anyone; years of rotting clothes, bedsheets and towels due to various skin treatments, not wearing anything remotely dark coloured because bits of me fell off, my eyebrows falling out and not wearing certain fabrics because they felt so nasty.
(Dregen, Sat 6 Mar 2010, 23:39, closed)

I may be guessing here
but did you go through the "Wet Wrap" treatment? (I was just thinking because you mentioned rotting clothes etc.)

I used to have the wraps done, and then my stepdad would make me walk to the local pub so he could watch the wrestling. :P
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 9:55, closed)

No need
to be funny. Its clearly not.
( Herb Alpert's Taxi Driver I have very beautiful lips, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 0:07, closed)

To the first person that decides to be clever and post one of those insults.
You're a cock.
(Scritty Bakerman., Sun 7 Mar 2010, 0:28, closed)

a mate of mine
has such bad skin that one time i hadn't seen him for a week, turned out he had be in hospital because of infection.

the only time i have laughed was one time he looked at his arm and had a weird look on his face like he had found the map to some lost gold,, he didn't find me funny till i explained why i was laughing and joined in, which was nice.

i do remeber him on one occasion looking very different i commented. he had start, yet another, course of drugs. he was pleased but did say they normally only last a few weeks.

he is a sound bloke, possible becuase of it all.
(StyX is staring at you, yes YOU!!!, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 0:38, closed)

a big supportive 'click'

(massively_optimistic that's terrific!, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 19:35, closed)

I remember being horrified by a friend
who's skin fell off of his body is such large clumps that it would leave him raw and some times bleeding. I was appalled when I asked him if it hurt, he just said yes. I so dearly wished I could have helped him, but all I could do was say that I was sorry that he suffered so much and no matter what he was my best friend. It was not about me, it was my horror at his suffering. You would not think that a person could be allergic to just water, but I think that he was. A trip across country was enough to make his skin dry and flake away and yet he would travel miles to see his friends. I don't know if any one else knew how much he hurt, but we all marvelled at his courage. Will, I always love you and every year when I hear that another Mountaineer has been hurt, I fear that it could be you, because I know that you will never give up and let ill health stop you from your adventures.

(Clicked, not because I want you to suffer, but because I admire your strength in telling us that you do.)
( Rev. Jayneflakes Buy my book, I need the cash for drugs and hookers, Sun 7 Mar 2010, 22:31, closed)

*Click*
You make my psoriasis sound like a walk in the park.
(mmmm curry doesn't really understand this sig lark, Mon 8 Mar 2010, 11:15, closed)