The Challenges Of Being A Bride With Psoriasis

Spring is here which means wedding season has arrived. Now divorced, years ago I was once a bride. Preparing for a wedding is stressful enough, but try throwing in the dynamics of having psoriasis on 90% of your body. My wedding was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of my life, but it was honestly beyond stressful.  At that time I was not comfortable with showing my skin and I didn't want to wear a dress that had my arms and back out. My skin was flaky, inflamed, and extremely dry.

I remember going to try on dresses with my mother, grandmother, and aunt. We picked out dresses and I headed to the changing room. Oddly enough I don't remember the dress shop having any long sleeve options. But maybe my memory is just foggy. In a traditional wedding store, you try on your dress then you come out in the center of the dressing room area where everyone can see you and help you decide on what to pick. Well, I didn't want to come out in front of everyone. I didn't want the other people I didn't know in the store to see my skin.  I sat in the dressing room as my eyes welled up with tears. My thoughts were racing, my hands were sweating, and my heart was beating fast... I was having an anxiety attack. Immediately I became irritable and didn't want to talk to anyone.

I finally picked a dress but I wasn't truly happy with my choice, which is also a concept I could apply to my spouse at the time (Just joking, lol lol lol). Anyway, there is a lot I could have done to make dress shopping more enjoyable, but at that time my mind was so inundated with thoughts about my skin- I couldn't really think things through. I just wanted the process to be over as soon as possible. Although it was a tough period, I learned a few things from that situation.

By no means am I encouraging women to hide their disease. If you are in a place in your life where you can flaunt your disease with no regret, good for you! I wish I was where you are during this previous time in my life. For those who still struggle to show off their spots, here are some tips I have for brides-to-be with psoriasis:

Long sleeve dresses

Back then my mind was so clouded by the planning process of my wedding that I didn't really realize there were tons of long sleeve options for wedding dresses. There a few different types that you can choose from which include solid, lace, or chiffon sleeves. If you are having a summer wedding and have spots on your arms I would say that a lace option would work best. The "busy" look of lace will camouflage plaques unlike the chiffon which is so thin you may still be able to see psoriasis.

Jackets/capes/shawl

Jackets and capes are also another option to accompany your beautiful wedding dress. They come in various styles, which include solid, lace, chiffon, fur, and they can be found in long or short sleeves. I feel as though jackets are best for Fall, Spring, and Winter weddings opposed to Summer. Ideally, you wouldn't wear the fur option when it's hot, but a lace or chiffon choice will cover you while you still remain comfortable.

Body makeup

This option is my least favorite choice, but it is an option none-the-less. If you don't want to use a cover up such as sleeves, you can use body makeup. The reason why I don't like this option is because body makeup can be messy and also rub off on your dress. Although there are options that state they don't rub off and are waterproof- I have tried a brand or two which still rubbed off- your experience may be different. Usually, there is a powder which comes with the makeup which sets it so it won't come off. There are companies that will do airbrush work for you but it may be a costly option. My suggestion is to google someone in your area and set up a test trial to see if it works for you.

If you are a woman with psoriasis what was your experience like? What advice could you give another bride-to-be with skin issues?