Name: Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2019-10-05
Rating: 88

Fandango at Home

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Is it an undiagnosed skin disease or is it a figment of mentally ill people's imaginations? ... This documentary responsibly presents both sides of the argument ... Whether or not Morgellons is a real disease, the suffering is real.

Sep 6, 2020

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Kensi B

Fascinating documentary on a skin disease where the patients suffer extremely yet the medical community (and the CDC) is virtually united in agreeing it "doesn't exist" and is all in the patients' heads. Looking at the reviews on Amazon, many people are chiming in saying that the movie is biased, unscientific, and apparently still believe that this condition is NOT REAL. I have to say I'm completely baffled by the skepticism. You can clearly SEE what is happening to the patients skin and the filaments that grow within it... yet you will also see a dermatologist saying that the filaments are caused by clothes and towels. HUH??? I've used clothes and towels my entire life, as have most people, and the vast majority of us don't have filaments growing out of our skin. The doctors also insist the wounds and sores are caused by the patients themselves picking at their skin - which also makes no sense as many of the wounds and sores were in places the patients wouldn't be able to reach (such as all over their back). And then the biggest evidence of all - long course treatments of antibiotics often cure the patients and they go back to a normal life. Wouldn't a patient with a mental disorder not be able to simply return to a normal existence?? Honestly, this film shocked me with how terrible and ignorant a lot of doctors can be. (The skeevy mansplaining dermatologist who appears all through the movie - bug-eyed, condescending, and nasty to everyone is typical of them.) Imagine going back to the days when syphilis patients were told they were insane, and not actually victim of a venereal disease. That is essentially what you have here. I hope to god I never get this because I will punch out the first moronic doctor who tells me I'm merely imagining it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/22

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Audience Member

Good movie.It is 100% real I don't know how the so called educated can not see beyond their textbooks.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

This was a great documentary very eye opening . Great use of showing evidence and presenting both sides.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

I think for the most part it was spot on however I would of like to of seen more people with the disease interviewed . As well as pictures of the kinds of artifacts and crazy stuff that morgellons sufferers have. I also would of like to of seen the reactions of doctors when a patient presents them with samples .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

This movie is likely going to be the very first impression any particular viewer has of Morgellons Disease. The media attention has faded, but the fight for legitimacy continues. This film makes time to explore the realities of various patients with the condition, and for those paying attention defines what the condition is supposed to be. Morgellons is a condition of microscopic fibers appearing embedded in skin tissue. One patient at least was reportedly accused of injecting fibers into their skin. The reality, however, and what the film clearly demonstrates, is that research efforts have determined a strong association with Lyme disease. This association garners both understanding and discrimination. On the one hand, for those who are aware of spirochetal infections and how they generally present and progress this evidence of an association with Lyme makes perfect sense. The bacteria is demonstrated to result in increased keratin and collagen production of the cells it infects. On the other hand, there are communities across the globe that neither understand nor take seriously pathogenic microbial infections. Some may not even believe Lyme disease is a problem outside of the North Eastern United States. For patients in these areas, this film might help friends and family struggling to understand what is happening to their loved ones. Through both relating with the personalities in this film, (Ed Hu's roller shoes steal the show) and being exposed to the unbiased scientific research to this point, people in areas where Lyme disease is not well understood should begin to understand that this Morgellons disease is not mental illness. Patients need appropriate care and don't have time for the medical community to step up to the plate. In this regard, the film shows that there are doctors who understand the condition and can aid a patient in their healing journey. This film will make you laugh, it will horrify and surprise you. You may even feel loss and love when watching Skin Deep. Through all this that's moving you please remember, these are real people dealing with a real disease that's especially misunderstood.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Well made and informative about what lymes/morgellons sufferers deal with. Even a love story and characters to cheer for.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Pi Ware

Director

Pi Ware

Writer

Patrick Belton

Producer

Gary Leva

Producer

Levon Mergian

Producer

Laura Stoddard

Producer

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Synopsis

A nurse researches a rare disease that many doctors do not believe exists.

Director: Pi Ware
Producer: Denise James, Jerry James
Screenwriter: Pi Ware
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 2020
Runtime: 1h 30m

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