Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

John Updike and Blue Light: From Psoriasis to Photodynamic Therapy

John Updike and Blue Light: From Psoriasis to Photodynamic Therapy “Fritz Fleischer's epidermis —plagued by psoriasis in childhood, then by sun damage in old age — ” develops actinic keratoses. With these words of his alter ego, John Updike (1932-2009) summarizes the consequences of the treatment for his almost lifelong psoriasis.1 Because his old dermatologist had died, Fleischer sought help from a young dermatologist “who gave the impression that all of the things that exist . . . the one that interested him least was human skin. ” He explained to Fleischer in detail the new technology of photodynamic therapy to “flush out precancerous cells. Before they turn cancerous. ” Fleischer realized that he himself and all the other patients who were waiting for photodynamic therapy were “victims of the same advertisements, the same airbrushed photos of twenty-year-old models, the same absurd American dream of self-perfection. ” The light exposure during photodynamic therapy is described as follows: “Needles of heat were thrust deep into his face. He could feel, at the tip of each, immature cells bursting like tiny firecrackers. ” No other writer has dealt in such detail with psoriasis and the impact that the disease and its therapy have on our psyche and daily life. Updike was probably the first to describe not only negative aspects of psoriasis but also a kind of “hidden delight ” while scratching.2 Undoubtedly, his writing is a fruitful literary source on psoriasis. Back to top Article Information Contact Dr Bahmer at Derma am Diako, Groepelinger Heerstrasse 406, 28239, Bremen, Germany (fbahmer@t-online.de). References 1. Updike J. Blue light. In: My Father's Tears and Other Stories. New York, NY: Ballantine Books Trade Paperbacks; 2009:193-263 2. Meulenberg F. The hidden delight of psoriasis. BMJ. 1997;315(7123):1709-17119448549PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

John Updike and Blue Light: From Psoriasis to Photodynamic Therapy

Bahmer, Friedrich A.
Archives of Dermatology , Volume 148 (3) – Mar 1, 2012
Download PDF
1 page

John Updike and Blue Light: From Psoriasis to Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

“Fritz Fleischer's epidermis —plagued by psoriasis in childhood, then by sun damage in old age — ” develops actinic keratoses. With these words of his alter ego, John Updike (1932-2009) summarizes the consequences of the treatment for his almost lifelong psoriasis.1 Because his old dermatologist had died, Fleischer sought help from a young dermatologist “who gave the impression that all of the things that exist . . . the one that interested him least was...
Loading next page...
 
/lp/american-medical-association/john-updike-and-blue-light-from-psoriasis-to-photodynamic-therapy-08CnU8eQnb

References (2)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archdermatol.2011.2826
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

“Fritz Fleischer's epidermis —plagued by psoriasis in childhood, then by sun damage in old age — ” develops actinic keratoses. With these words of his alter ego, John Updike (1932-2009) summarizes the consequences of the treatment for his almost lifelong psoriasis.1 Because his old dermatologist had died, Fleischer sought help from a young dermatologist “who gave the impression that all of the things that exist . . . the one that interested him least was human skin. ” He explained to Fleischer in detail the new technology of photodynamic therapy to “flush out precancerous cells. Before they turn cancerous. ” Fleischer realized that he himself and all the other patients who were waiting for photodynamic therapy were “victims of the same advertisements, the same airbrushed photos of twenty-year-old models, the same absurd American dream of self-perfection. ” The light exposure during photodynamic therapy is described as follows: “Needles of heat were thrust deep into his face. He could feel, at the tip of each, immature cells bursting like tiny firecrackers. ” No other writer has dealt in such detail with psoriasis and the impact that the disease and its therapy have on our psyche and daily life. Updike was probably the first to describe not only negative aspects of psoriasis but also a kind of “hidden delight ” while scratching.2 Undoubtedly, his writing is a fruitful literary source on psoriasis. Back to top Article Information Contact Dr Bahmer at Derma am Diako, Groepelinger Heerstrasse 406, 28239, Bremen, Germany (fbahmer@t-online.de). References 1. Updike J. Blue light. In: My Father's Tears and Other Stories. New York, NY: Ballantine Books Trade Paperbacks; 2009:193-263 2. Meulenberg F. The hidden delight of psoriasis. BMJ. 1997;315(7123):1709-17119448549PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of Dermatology – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 2012

Keywords: photochemotherapy,psoriasis

There are no references for this article.