Dubliner Des Carroll (39), who has had psoriasis for 20 years, is indebted to an unidentified type of fish swimming around the Greek Islands for a welcome period of remission.
Des, whose lower back, legs and scalp are affected, says that as a keen golfer the most inconvenient part of the disease is answering questions about the rash.
Having long ago accepted that there is "no miracle cure", Des was amazed when, on a sun holiday to Greece two years ago, he dived from a boat into the sea and was immediately surrounded by swarms of fish who started to nibble the scales off his body.
"We were about 200 yards off shore and about 50 fish started to pick the scales off my legs, ignoring all the other people in the water," he recalls.
"Afterwards there were blood marks which lasted for two days and then my body was absolutely clear for about four weeks."
Des has been able to stabilise his condition with creams and is very careful about avoiding perfumed deodorants and soaps. "I have a very tight haircut and never use shampoo.
"I use non-biological washing powder and if I used perfumed fabric conditioner, I would look as if I had taken a fork and scratched my body."
Journalist Laura Monaghan is grateful to a more conventional form of treatment for keeping her psoriasis-free for the past seven months.
She had her last session of ultraviolet light treatment in January and says her body is still clear.
"You have it about three times a week up to about 25 sessions depending on how much you need," she explains.
Laura (35) was 17 and doing her Leaving Certificate when psoriasis hit, suggesting that stress was the trigger in her case.
"I get it on my knees, elbows, scalp and arms. It is unsightly and I am self-conscious about wearing short sleeves."
Marese McDonagh