August 2018

The Dowling Oration was delivered by Dr. Andrew Griffiths in Liverpool, England in March 2003 as he reflected on 35 years as a dermatologist. It is frequently used as a reference in PRP-related research. To explain his methodology for calculating the prevalence rate of pityriasis rubra pilaris, Griffiths writes: “Most dermatologists never have a new […]

Not as unique as a fingerprint, but rare and genetic diseases are uncommon to most doctors and, as a whole, represent a large medical challenge. Combine this with the lack of financial or market incentives to treat or cure rare diseases, and you have a serious public health problem. Here are a few statistics and

While PRP is not contagious, it is important to include the phrase “not contagious” early in any first-time explanation of why we look the way we look. When dealing with a passerby who stares at your red and flaking skin in the cereal aisle at grocery store, you might consider the following strategy: ❏‰ Make

When James Shooter was admitted to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, England in 1828, he unwittingly became the world’s first patient with what the medical community would eventually call pityriasis rubra pilaris. In 1828, however, Mr. Shooter’s skin disorder did not yet have a name. Seven years passed before Claudius Tarral, a French dermatologist, wrote

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a group of rare skin disorders that cause inflammation and shedding of the skin. Typically, PRP appears first as a small spot somewhere on the body and then spreads elsewhere. It will impact different parts of the body in different ways for unpredictable periods of time. PRP patients and their