My 11-year-old son, Kyle, is off school at the moment because he has a skin condition in the small of his back and in his groin and the upper-insides of his thighs. His skin has a bluish tinge, it's scaly and very painful. Our GP has suggested it may be psoriasis but isn't sure and so has referred him to a dermatologist, but says that it looks like August before he can get seen. Because he isn't sure about what the condition is, he's not prescribed anything except keeping the affected area clean and if it spreads or starts to weep, we are to take him back to the clinic.

We are not impressed. Our little boy can't wear trousers or even shorts because he finds the skin-to-cloth contact too painful, so at first he had to mooch around the house in a dressing gown. Next month we are going on holiday to Jordan for 3-weeks - a holiday we planned with him in mind because he is really interested in history and archaeology of which there is an abundance in Jordan. We have to get there and when we do, we don't intend to spend the whole time in the hotel and Kyle can't travel about in his dressing gown so I've bought him half-a-dozen fairly plain girls' dresses. They fit him OK and are the only thing he can wear which are comfortable and he says he'd wear them rather than miss his holiday.

Firstly, is it usual for the GP to prescribe absolutely NOTHING? Secondly, should it take 8 weeks to see a skin specialist and thirdly, should I protect his "rash" from direct sunlight or will the sun be beneficial to the condition?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Katz xx