Category Archives: Elpern, David J.

Miss Gee by W.H. Auden

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I came across these lines in Kathleen Watt’s engrossing 2023 memoir, Rearranged “Doctor Thomas sat over his dinner, Though his wife was waiting to ring, Rolling his bread into pellets; Said, “Cancer’s a funny thing. “Nobody knows what the cause is, Though some pretend they do; It’s like some hidden assassin Waiting to strike at you. “Childless women get it. And men when they retire; It’s as if there had to be some outlet For their foiled creative fire.” His wife she rang for the servant, Said, “Don’t be so morbid, dear”; They are from the poem, Miss. Gee. The link has a fine audio-recording.Note: W.H. Auden’s father was a … Continue reading →

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The Skin I’m In

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Dr. James Foong from Ipoh, Malaysia alerted us to this well-done video addressing how some patients view their psoriasis. Digging deeper, the consultant dermatologist listed in the credits, Dr. Sandy McBride, has lots of conflict of interests. This is taken from a recent article of McBride’s. Still, this is a fine video that will help some patients. It was ssupported by a grant from AbbVie (the company that makes Humira). Putting all if this into perspective, the video is still very worth watching,

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Close Encounters Of The HS Kind

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By Krista Elizabeth Hammaker* Encounter #1: An emaciated 30-year-old Black man, Cracks “Is this assisted living, or jail?” Post wide gluteal excision, anemic. A nursing home crisis, a pandemic. Diagnosis: Hidradenitis suppurativa.  En route to doctor, he asks for sativa. Pain found in hell’s conditions and terms. He said, “At least I’m finally headed to Derm.” His facility – the biggest dump in town. Government funded. No justice around. He’s all clean and ready for big medicine’s foolishness. No option for comfort but right lateral decubitus.   Reason for visit: Humira and wound inspection Care delivered: None (and little affection) “No Humira insurance, after a 7 month wait?” Care delivered: … Continue reading →

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Fat Matters and Marketing

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On January 1, 2023, the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes aired a segment  on Obesity.  It featured a promising new weight loss medication that is in short supply and often is not covered by insurance.  This was a good piece, but it made me a uneasy.  Is weight loss as simple as taking a shot once a week?  The medication is semaglutide and it comes as Wegovy and Ozempic.  Wegovy is approved for weight loss and Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes; although both are the same drug. The 60 Minute section reminded me of the quote,  “There’s a pill for every ill.”  Wegovy’s price on GoodRx is ~ $1400 per … Continue reading →

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Providing Hats and Sun Safe Information to Galveston’s Homeless 

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Practicing Safe Sun in Galveston Title: Providing Hats and Sun Safe Information to Galveston’s Homeless Andrea Francis BS1, Richard F. Wagner Jr MD21. The University of Texas Medical Branch, School of Medicine2. The University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Dermatology Corresponding author:Andrea Francis BSEmail: asfranci@utmb.e Keywords: Sun safety, Sun Protection, Homeless Health, Dermatology. INTRODUCTIONGalveston, Texas has a higher rate of homelessness than most U.S. and other Texas cities. The most recent point-of-time survey identified 326 homeless in Galveston during January 2020. The homeless population in subtropical Galveston is at increased risk for facial skin cancer due to daily unprotected outdoor exposure to sunlight. This Quality Improvement Project (QIP) was … Continue reading →

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The name — of it — is “Autumn”

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The name — of it — is “Autumn” —The hue — of it — is Blood —An Artery — upon the Hill —A Vein — along the Road — Great Globules — in the Alleys —And Oh, the Shower of Stain —When Winds — upset the Basin —And spill the Scarlet Rain — It sprinkles Bonnets — far below —It gathers ruddy Pools —Then — eddies like a Rose — away —Upon Vermilion Wheels — Photos channeling Emily Dickinson taken on the weekend of October 8 – 9, 2002 in Williamstown, MA.

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Vaseline, Slugging and TikTok Docs

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Videntium cave Vaseline, Slugging and TikTok Docs Makayla Power David J. Elpern Keywords, Vaseline, Aquaphor, CeraVe, social media, TikToc, xerosis, social influencers For 150 years, people been coating their faces and other body surfaces with Vaseline®, the ubiquitous, cheap, commonplace product that was awarded Patent No. 127,568, on June 4, 1872.1  It is such a useful product that,  tongue-in-cheek, we call it Vitamin V. In a parallel universe, great masses of people are hearing about expanded, anecdotal uses for Vaseline®. One, in particular, “slugging,” is being plugged on the video-focused social networking service TikTok.  Launched in 2017, TikTok hosts a variety of short-form user-videos for iOS and Android devices in … Continue reading →

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Functional Dermatological Symptoms: Hiding in plain sight

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. – Hamlet (1.5.167-8) By David J. Elpern, M.D.The Skin Clinic 12 Meadow Street, Williamstown, MA 01267djelpern@gmail.com Keywords: medically unexplained symptoms, medically unexplained dermatological symptoms, MUDS, functional symptoms, dermatology All dermatologists see patients with complaints that defy definitive medical diagnosis.  They consult us with hopes for a conclusive diagnosis and treatment, or even just for someone to listen to their symptoms with a supportive ear. Some of our patients have baffling, unexplained symptoms often related to cutaneous pain, pruritus, unexplained skin sensations or excoriations.   These patients frequently have other symptoms: headaches, chest pain, gastrointestinal disorders, … Continue reading →

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