Clara Luu’s poem is the most eloquent description of severe atopic dermatitis ( often called S.A.D.) that I have come across in a long dermatological career. If you read it, you don’t need all the textbooks or review articles. It speaks to what we are trying to do with the OJCPCD. Persistent scratches ripping through the tranquility of the night, and bedsheets dusty with flaked skin, mingled with dried blood in the mornings. Her skin stained with the purple sting of potassium permanganate, burning from the relentless scorch of tea tree oil, smothered in topical corticosteroids. Bandaged to retain moisture. Unbandaged to promote air flow. A blur of diagnoses and … Continue reading