Mnemonics and Multi-Dermatitis Memorization

If you’ve been reading advocate content on this site for a while, you are likely to know already that atopic dermatitis is not the only type of dermatitis around.

Have I had other types of dermatitis?

You may even be so “fortunate” to have experienced other types of dermatitis alongside your eczema. I am one of those fortunate people. So fortunate in fact, that it often seems if I have a skin-related healthcare concern arise, it is often found to be related to or the fault of one type of dermatitis or another.

Unfortunately for me, my fortune with racking up eczema diagnoses does not extend to remembering which ones I have had and what they do.

How have I remembered my diagnoses?

I experienced a TBI (traumatic brain injury) in my early 20’s, which made remembering important information quite difficult. To combat this, I have often employed memory-enhancing techniques.

My favorite of these techniques, and the most personally effective of them, is singing. The use of rhyme, acronyms, phrasing, and imagery as tools to increase memory retention are called mnemonic tools. If I can either create rhymes or put the information to tune the chances I will retain said information increase exponentially.

What is my song about seborrheic dermatitis?

(Sung to the tune of ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.)

“You can get a dermatitis. Dermatitis! Dermatitis! You can get dermatitis On and around your head.

Sometimes called Sebhorrea. Sebhorrea! Sebhorrea! Sometimes called Sebhorrea. It can make skin itchy, flaky and red.

Dandruff is not quite the same. Not quite the same, not quite the same. Dandruff is not quite the same, it’s only on the head.

SD can go on ears, nose, face. Ears, nose, face! Ears, nose, face! SD can go on ears, nose, face. And sometimes on the chest.

Get some coal tar, drink some water and warm, humid spring air will take care of the rest.”

(Rhyme notes: Coal tar is in reference to coal tar shampoo, a product sold in most drug stores that I have found quite effective at reducing the severity of my SD symptoms on my scalp and ears.)

What is my song about neurodermatitis?

(Sung to the tune of Queens ‘We Will Rock You.’)

“Neuro-derma-titis - - *

Neuro-derma-titis - - *

Buddy, it’s a small patch, a rough patch, but it’s only on my right foot every day.

Not on my hands or my face. It stays in one place. Leathery and itchy in one small space.”

Do I have songs for all types of eczema?

As you may have noticed, not all of the several types of eczema are represented and rhymed about above. I have limited my rhymes only to include the types of dermatitis (apart from atopic dermatitis) I have personally experienced.

If I’m lucky, I won’t have to make any more mnemonic devices to compare dermatitis! (Yes, the rhyme was intentional.)

Why did I make songs?

I hope you enjoyed my little rhymes and songs about a couple of the members of the dermatitis family of skin disorders. I know they are certainly a silly way of helping me remember how diverse my encounters with some of the types of dermatitis have been.

However, between all the stressors of the world and the stressors of eczema, I think we could all use a bit more knowledge and a lot more silliness.