Understanding Skin Problems: Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and Related Conditions

by Linda Papadopoulos, Carl Walker

As suffers will know, any dermatological condition can have adevastating effect leading to feelings of isolation and depression.

Filling the gap between medical advice and lay knowledge,Understanding Skin Problems provides crucial information to helpyou understand the various aspects of your condition -psychological and social as well as medical - so that you canimprove the quality of your life and learn to cope better with theproblem.

Written in easy-to-understand language, it offers a positive,hopeful outlook and includes lists of organizations for furtherhelp.
* Broad coverage relevant to a wide range of skin conditions
* Written in a very accessible style
* Lists of further help, organisations etc included


Linda Papadopoulos is a Reader in Psychology and a charteredcounselling and health psychologist. She currently works as acourse director at London Guildhall University. She has publishedextensively in the fields of medical and counselling psychology andhas been invited to present her research at various internationalconferences. She has also appeared on a variety of televisionprogrammes such as 'Big Brother' as their expert psychologist.
Carl Walker is a Research Psychologist at London GuildhallUniversity where he is currently finishing a PhD inpsychodermatology. He comes from a biological background, havinggraduated in biology from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College,University of London.

Genres: Sociology

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2003

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be more of a "why you must suffer from the dread psoriasis" kind of book, but really it was a "how you can deal mentally with the dread psoriasis and other skin diseases" sort of book. Which was interesting. I'd not read anything about the psychological effects of skin conditions.

I'm pretty at home with the psoriasis that has been living with me for seven years now. I don't do a lot of the things the author covered, like skipping social activities. I don't mind educating people about why my arms are red. Indeed, I work in a school and children are often curious, and sometimes horrified. I've learned to live with that. I did note, thanks to the author, that I had fallen into the trap of thinking all the things psoriasis was keeping me from. Just in the past month I caught myself thinking that in my current state I could not be an actress, stripper or prostitute. These also happen to be three jobs that I've never wanted.

The discussion about skin conditions being a "visible disease" was interesting also. I'd not thought about it, but people with diabetes, or heart disease don't have to out themselves, while people's skin conditions are always on display for comment or suggestion, welcome or not. This is a short book and worth reading.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that talks about visible skin conditions and the way people treat you. Sounds depressing and sometimes I felt a little sad and embarrassed but mostly it understands and offers ways to overcome negative reactions from strangers, e.g rudeness, staring, irrelevant questions, and so forth. It talks about what the skin conditions are and all the science related to it as well as the psychological implications and social effects.