Date: 08/23/2024

by Les Avakian

I just checked my mail and found the letter on wills and trusts from FIRST. I was sorry to see my good friend Captain Joe Galluccio had passed on. We have been friends since 1999 when he came to the ichthyosis chatroom and the ichthyosis bulletin board. He had X-linked like me, and we comically debated the best ways to help our skin. His dermatologist was Dr. Eugene Van Scott from Philadelphia, who I consider the "Father of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid Movement" and a lifetime supporter of FIRST. Joe tried convincing me of the benefits of glycolic acid. I, of course, countered that Dr. Peter Elias, co-founder of FIRST, handed me a tube of Lac-Hydrin 12% lactic acid in his office in January of 1983, that took away my itch and allowed me to sleep.
 
I contacted Neostrata, owned by Dr. Van Scott and Dr. Yu, and tried his glycolic acid. My response to Joe was “it wasn't strong enough to take away the winter itch.” He tried 12% Lac-Hydrin and responded it was too strong. We finally met at the vulgaris/x-linked discussion group at the Atlanta conference back in 2006. I remember when he moved down to Florida.
 
We would always check up on each other and exchange if there was any new information about ichthyosis. This is what the magic of FIRST offers. I have always said, our foundation is more than skin deep. FIRST goes straight to the heart, brings people together, who develop relationships that last a lifetime.  Joe was a wonderful friend who will be missed.