Health Boards
Tue-20-03-2012, 23:41 PM
Hi Jess,
I'm new to this forum and have spent the past 5 minutes reading through this thread and just wanted to add some words of encouragement and support.
I've lived with psoriasis since I was 4 years of age. Neither of my parents have the condition but my maternal grandmother did and that's probably where I inherited it from... My brother has had it since his teens but only on his scalp and my youngest sister has developed a couple of small patches on her elbows just recently (in her mid 20's).
During my life I have been where you are, mainly in my teen years, covering up from head to toe even in the height of summer, angry because I was the only person to have the stupid flaky skin. Depressed because I could see other teenage girls and women out in nice little vest tops and hotpants in the summer while I was limited to jeans and long sleeves. Depressed because of the nasty things kids at school would say to me about my skin.
When I got a little older I moved away from home to go to uni and was well and truly out of my comfort zone as I had nobody around who knew about my condition or anyone to support me when I was feeling low. I avoided situations where my patches would be seen, giving up many of the sports I did as a teenager. A chance conversation with a lad in the common room at uni changed my perspective. He had noticed my skin in passing and struck up a conversation with me about it. I found that explaining it to people was empowering, so much so that I got very comfortable wearing what other girls around me were wearing and educating people on the condition when they asked (adults are good like that, they ask questions rather than pick on you like kids/teens do).
I grew in confidence thanks to that lad... My psoriasis at times has covered up to 95% of my body (with the exception of my hands and face although I have it at my hairline) and been dry, cracked, painful to touch etc. but I refuse to let it define who I am.
Like you I have a daughter who loves swimming and at first I was very self conscious about taking her because I didn't want to feel like everyone was staring at me... Believe it or not, people don't stare, they are too busy doing laps or looking after their own kids. I happily lie in my garden and sunbathe (during that one day of the year where Aberdeenshire has a temperature above 15oC and no cloud cover
) my neighbours are all new (live in a new estate) but not one has ever mentioned my skin.
As for relationships... well, you can take it from me that people see past the psoriasis to the person you are... I have a wonderful husband who says that he never sees my patches and my daughters father never had any issue with it either.
Becoming comfortable with having psoriasis took me a long time (about 15 years) and I know that it may sound a little trite but one day you will reach the place I am at now. It's a long path but a good support network, good friends who understand and listen to you rant/cry/laugh about the condition help. If you can find a support group in your area I would recommend that you pop along to a meeting and meet others in the same situation as you.. Most dermatology clinics will have details.
Also, get a good dermatologist. That will make a big difference to any treatment you get, GP's are great but they are not specialists.
Hugs...
Krissie
I'm new to this forum and have spent the past 5 minutes reading through this thread and just wanted to add some words of encouragement and support.
I've lived with psoriasis since I was 4 years of age. Neither of my parents have the condition but my maternal grandmother did and that's probably where I inherited it from... My brother has had it since his teens but only on his scalp and my youngest sister has developed a couple of small patches on her elbows just recently (in her mid 20's).
During my life I have been where you are, mainly in my teen years, covering up from head to toe even in the height of summer, angry because I was the only person to have the stupid flaky skin. Depressed because I could see other teenage girls and women out in nice little vest tops and hotpants in the summer while I was limited to jeans and long sleeves. Depressed because of the nasty things kids at school would say to me about my skin.
When I got a little older I moved away from home to go to uni and was well and truly out of my comfort zone as I had nobody around who knew about my condition or anyone to support me when I was feeling low. I avoided situations where my patches would be seen, giving up many of the sports I did as a teenager. A chance conversation with a lad in the common room at uni changed my perspective. He had noticed my skin in passing and struck up a conversation with me about it. I found that explaining it to people was empowering, so much so that I got very comfortable wearing what other girls around me were wearing and educating people on the condition when they asked (adults are good like that, they ask questions rather than pick on you like kids/teens do).
I grew in confidence thanks to that lad... My psoriasis at times has covered up to 95% of my body (with the exception of my hands and face although I have it at my hairline) and been dry, cracked, painful to touch etc. but I refuse to let it define who I am.
Like you I have a daughter who loves swimming and at first I was very self conscious about taking her because I didn't want to feel like everyone was staring at me... Believe it or not, people don't stare, they are too busy doing laps or looking after their own kids. I happily lie in my garden and sunbathe (during that one day of the year where Aberdeenshire has a temperature above 15oC and no cloud cover
) my neighbours are all new (live in a new estate) but not one has ever mentioned my skin.As for relationships... well, you can take it from me that people see past the psoriasis to the person you are... I have a wonderful husband who says that he never sees my patches and my daughters father never had any issue with it either.
Becoming comfortable with having psoriasis took me a long time (about 15 years) and I know that it may sound a little trite but one day you will reach the place I am at now. It's a long path but a good support network, good friends who understand and listen to you rant/cry/laugh about the condition help. If you can find a support group in your area I would recommend that you pop along to a meeting and meet others in the same situation as you.. Most dermatology clinics will have details.
Also, get a good dermatologist. That will make a big difference to any treatment you get, GP's are great but they are not specialists.
Hugs...
Krissie