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Editorial| Volume 9, ISSUE 2, P102-103, March 2004

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Emotions of the Disease

      “Beauty is only skin deep.” People with skin disease often do not feel beautiful, and the layers of the effects of skin disease reach much deeper than skin. “Emotions of Disease,” a patient art exhibit shown at the International Investigative Dermatology meeting in Miami Beach, Florida, April 30 through May 4, 2003, was organized by the Coalition of Skin Diseases (CSD). The exhibit offered physicians and scientists a personal perspective of patients' experience through artwork presented in a variety of media. Artists ranged from adult patients who have struggled with the burden of skin disease throughout their lives to youth who are just beginning that painful journey.
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      As she lays itching and burning the city goes on … unaware. Chele′ Williams, acrylic on canvas. With permission from the artist
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      Isolation … often worse than the disease. Ryan Garrington, acrylic on canvas. With permission of the artist.
      The CSD is a voluntary coalition of national lay skin organizations representing people with skin diseases throughout the world. The Society for Investigative Dermatology is proud of its long and fruitful partnership with these patient advocate groups and is honored to have been the host of this patient art exhibit. Thank you to all of the patients who had the courage to submit their work, and especially to LaDonna Williams of the Inflammatory Skin Disease Institute, who was instrumental in developing the exhibit.
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      Clothes stuck to an oozing body … but she stays silent. Chele′ Williams, acrylic on canvas. With permission from the artist.