Episode 50 - Overcoming Barriers - A Psoriasis Patient Story | The Future of Dermatology Podcast

Summary Shawn Thomas shares his journey as a psoriasis patient and co-founder of Solay. He describes his initial symptoms and the progression of his psoriasis, leading to his diagnosis in 2018. Shawn discusses the emotional impact of being diagnosed with an incurable disease and the challenges of managing psoriasis on a daily basis. He emphasizes the importance of sharing his diagnosis and finding support from others who also have psoriasis. Shawn explores various treatment options he tried, including topical corticosteroids and natural remedies, before discovering the Goeckerman therapy. He shares his experience of self-administering the therapy using over-the-counter coal tar and UVB light. Learn more about Solay at: https://solayhealth.com/   Takeaways Psoriasis is an incurable disease that can have a significant emotional impact on patients. Sharing the diagnosis and finding support from others with psoriasis can help patients feel less alone. Exploring different treatment options, including natural remedies and innovative therapies like Goeckerman therapy, can be beneficial. Self-administering treatments like coal tar and UVB light may be an alternative for patients who cannot access specialized clinics. Goeckerman therapy can be an effective and safe treatment for psoriasis, but it is often inaccessible due to limited availability and barriers such as time and cost. Soleil, a telemedicine platform co-founded by Shawn Thomas, aims to make Goeckerman therapy more accessible by providing patients with the necessary equipment and physician oversight. Innovations in healthcare access and delivery, such as value-based care models and telehealth, are needed to ensure that effective treatments are affordable and available to all patients. Building trust and strong patient-provider relationships are crucial in improving treatment adherence and outcomes. The future of dermatology and healthcare should focus on both treatment innovations and innovations in access to care.   Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:19 - Diagnosis and Challenges of Psoriasis 12:18 - Discovering Goeckerman Therapy 19:06 - Personal Experience with Goeckerman Therapy 27:24 - Innovations in Access to Dermatological Care 35:03 -The Future of Dermatology and Healthcare 40:16 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks