I thought it wasn't contagious?

[sudrakarma]

I've had four dermatologists over several years and as many biopsies diagnose me as having seborrheic keratosis, which in all general medical texts is said to be a benign skin condition affecting mostly older individuals. and is not supposed to be communicable. But my wife now clearly has developed the same clusters of lesions and my 11 year old daughter has two under her arms. ????? I don't want them to suffer like I have for over a decade.

The condition started when I was 27 and moved in "clusters" to other parts of my body over the years until it nearly covers my entire body; my underarms, my feet & ankles, forearms, thighs, shins, chest, scalp, and now buttocks. I'm 41 now and modern dermatology hasn't done anything for me other than attempting to burn a few off (which always come back) or prescribe hydrocortizone for the horrible itching. Most derms have suggested that it's just dry skin - but these things itch even when you're well lubricated.

Psychologically, this disease has been devastating to my quality of life, but dermatologists regularly dismiss my concern and/or requests for tests that might reveal an underlying cause (like a polymerase DNA test). Instead they advise me to "seek counseling" if I'm that concerned. One prescribed oatmeal baths and told me not to worry so much. When I tried to explain that my wife had seemed to be developing the same symptoms, one disease specialist suggested "maybe she just has dry skin". ARRRRGGGHHHH!

It's terribly frustrating because I can't seem to get anyone to take an interest in going beyond the throwaway diagnosis of SK - which has no known cause and no known cure. Doctors hate taking advice from mere patients, even if those patients have spent considerable more time researching their specific condition than they ever will.

Sure, I expect a few skin lesions as I grow older, maybe even dozens, but several thousand lesions that itch and spread in clusters? It's evident that the practice of general dermatology (and modern medicine in general) is severely wanting. If they can't cut it off, burn it off, scratch it off or prescribe some expensive, but completely useless ointment - you're outta luck buddy.