Editor’s Note: While all patients with PRP share a common core of symptoms, the specific symptoms that patients experience may vary dramatically. PRP causes pink, red, or orange-red scaly patches on the skin — usually everywhere, but not always. But that is just the beginning. Each PRP patient diagnosed with PRP — and their caregiver […]
How bad is my version of PRP going to get? Read More »
When your dermatologist entered the diagnostic code L44.0 into your medical record, the diagnosis of pityriasis rubra pilaris became official. If you now question the accuracy of that diagnosis — for any reason — ask your dermatologist to confirm the following: ❏ What SPECIFIC clinical observations were made that supported the “official” diagnosis of PRP?
How can I be sure the diagnosis is correct? Read More »
Editor’s Note — Dan M, Rutland, Vermont, a dermatologist, was diagnosed with PRP in July, 2015 and is currently in remission. He recently posted the following to fellow members of the PRP Facebook Support Group “PRP can mimic other much more common skin like contact dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. A biopsy can be helpful. Unfortunately, PRP is very rare so dermatologists do
Why is it so difficult to diagnose PRP? Read More »
The PRP timeline varies from sequential to haphazard. For some PRP patients the inflammation spreads like a wildfire. Others watch a slow, methodical movement from “hither to yon” where neither hither nor yon is predictable. Here are some of the symptoms fellow PRP patients and their caregivers have reported. ✽ The skin on the palms
How do PRP symptoms progress? Read More »
When a dermatologist examines a patient who will eventually be diagnosed with PRP, they may see signs and symptoms that suggest a more common skin disorder. When that dermatologist combines medical training, clinical observations and biopsies and makes a diagnosis of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, it is called a differential diagnosis — not a mistake. A differential diagnosis
What are the symptoms of PRP? Read More »
The rendering of an “official” diagnosis of pityriasis rubra pilaris requires two elements: clinical observation AND a biopsy that “supports” a diagnosis of PRP. Clinical observations of a trained dermatologist When a yet-to-be diagnosed PRP patient is seen by a dermatologist, the scope of the symptoms may vary from a small persistent spot on the
How is PRP diagnosed? Read More »
Based on the comments of fellow PRP patients and caregivers, dermatologists seem reticent to go beyond a simple diagnosis. We are told Adult Onset PRP or Juvenile Onset PRP. The age of onset makes that an easy call. As PRP patients and caregivers, we want to know where we fit it. Atypical Adult Onset With adults,
How important is it for you to know your type? Read More »
From the Editor… Why is it important to know the odds of getting PRP, adult onset versus juvenile or by one of the six “types”? Quite simply — it’s a matter of storytelling. Each PRP patient and/or caregiver is a subject-matter expert. When I am asked a question about PRP or had the opportunity to share my
What were my odds of getting PRP? Read More »