How My Attitude to My Psoriasis Has Changed Over Time

I remember being diagnosed with psoriasis when I was 11 years old. I had patches on my scalp so my mother took me to the doctors and I was given treatment.

When I became a teenager it spread to other parts of my body and my flare ups were so bad most of me was covered in red, itchy lesions.

In that time, I’ve spoken about my struggles with the condition both physically and mentally, and just how tough it has been to deal with. Sometimes the lesions disappear, other times they disappear in one part of my body only to appear elsewhere, and there have been times where it has made me feel very despondent and down.

The bad days are over

But I truly feel the bad days are over. Yes, my psoriasis is not fully clear, and yes it does still present as itchy, red and sore, but I genuinely appreciate life now and want to live every day like it’s my last.

Often with this illness because it’s chronic, long-lasting and fleeting, you have not only a battle with your skin, but your resilience is tested too, and it can all take a huge toll.

The condition itself is difficult, but so are the endless trips to the doctor’s office, the feeling like treatments are working and then not working, the stares and comments from strangers, the feeling like you can only confide in your family and friends.

Over time, things will improve

What I will say is over time things do really improve. Now I am on a treatment which has given me the most amount of clearance for the longest period of time, I have feel like a corner has definitely been turned. I feel mentally better, physically better and I just feel like this condition doesn’t have the hold over me that it once presented.

Now when I go to the doctor and continue my treatment, even when I go to the hairdressers for my latest haircut, I take it all in my stride and not let this illness affect it or my day-to-day routine. If my scalp psoriasis is particularly bad, or I have a particularly large lesion, I will find some moisturisers to reduce the scaling and make it less itchy, and for my scalp, I apply coconut oil and gently comb through the tough bits of skin.

Acceptance has helped me

In my view, the key to conquering your psoriasis is accepting it and then being happy with it. It’s a chronic, life-long condition with plenty of treatments but it will never truly go away. It will never leave you. You have the gene. But you can get the symptoms under control and change your mindset so it no longer presents as a problem.

If you’ve just been diagnosed, have had the condition for years or are looking for some help for a family member or friend with the illness, just let them know, it will get better. You will have ups and downs but you will get through them. Your psoriasis will go away. It will not be as itchy, red and burdensome as it currently is. But it will take time. Rome wasn’t build in a day. Just know: you’ve got this.