History of self-experimentation in dermatology: should we go first--sometimes?

Because of its availability, the skin has been used over the years for self-experimentation. Many examples can be cited, including the heroic self-experiments of Carrión of Peru with verruga peruana and those of Goldberger with pellagra and Pediculoides ventricosus. My personal self-experimentation began with sensitization to Japanese lacquer. From that starting point I experimented with chemical warfare agents, cortisone versus hydrocortisone, bites of various arthropods, and finally, experiments with lasers. Some dermatologists will continue to do self-experimentation when they acquire infections from their patients. I believe that sometimes, for their patients' benefit, they should go first.