How to Deal with Facial Psoriasis If You’re a Young Person
There’s nothing worse than waking up to find a fresh outbreak of psoriasis on your body or in your scalp. But, there are additional challenges when this happens on your face.
Having psoriasis on your face can be debilitating for a number of reasons.
Facial psoriasis is hard to manage
Firstly, it is what you present to the world. People will, sadly, make judgments and not everyone will understand the battle you are going through.
Secondly, it can be hard to disguise (if you want to do that). Unlike other areas of the body, such as the arms and legs, you can cover most with clothes. But with the face that is not the case. There are cosmetic procedures which can help, as can the use of make-up, but not everyone wants to or feels obliged to use them.
Thirdly, it can be a particularly difficult thing to accept in itself. Psoriasis is generally a lifelong chronic condition which flares up in waves. Psoriasis itself can be difficult to accept, but having the additional issue of it on your face can make that even worse. The above reasons contribute to this.
Young people face particular pressures when it comes to facial psoriasis because of the desire to fit in, be accepted, form relationships and get a job. I have struggled for much of my life with psoriasis on the face. It has only been a biologic injection which has helped to clear it and keep it away. However, it is not all doom and gloom, as treatments work differently for different people. Here’s what you can do if you’re struggling with psoriasis on your face.
Be persistent in seeing your doctor and dermatologist
I know it sounds obvious, but it really is true. Don’t give up with your doctor and/or dermatologist!
I struggled for years with actually being honest about how I felt some treatments were doing, so I ended up suffering more than was necessary.
Don’t do that! Speak up and make your voice heard. If you don’t think a particular treatment is working effectively enough then say so and you may be able to try a different one.
In the meantime, don’t forget to use moisturizers and don’t put anything on the face which may irritate it. That includes products with perfumes.
If the affected area is below your hairline, consider growing your hair to cover it if you feel that would reduce how much it bothers you.
Do your research online too
I would never advise just ordering something on the internet and expecting it to work. However, do find products online which you can discuss with your medical team.
There are a range of creams, ointments, heat lamps and other products which may be effective for facial psoriasis, and your medical team may allow you to use. So, have a look and take some notes with you to discuss at your next appointment.
Get psychological support
Psycho-dermatologists is a controversial practice, but it could help you come to terms with what you’re dealing with. These individuals are trained specifically in skin issues so may be more helpful than a general psychotherapist.
Having said that, if you don’t think psycho-dermatology is for you, or you want more general psychotherapy looking at the impact of psoriasis and its interaction with other areas of your life, then more general mental health therapy may be better for you.
Either way, psoriasis is a challenge. And that’s particularly true when it’s on your face. So, if it’s bothering you, or you’re slipping into depression and anxiety, it’s worth chatting through your thoughts and feelings with a trusted friend or trained professional.
Realize that it’s not your fault and it won’t be forever
At the end of the day, those who matter, don’t mind, and those who mind, don’t matter. People who judge you for who you are and your illness are not, frankly, people worth knowing. If there are people who are making you feel bad because of the condition on your face, then tell them to stop and find new people to interact with.
If you feel you are being bullied, it’s important to remove yourself from the situation, and if you are unable to, to seek help from a trusted charity or organization, or someone who you feel can help.
Nonetheless, be kind to yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror each morning and remind yourself of how great you are, how worthy you are and how valuable you are. Don’t let the opinions of others – perceived or otherwise – put you and your confidence down.
Laugh and be happy
There may not be an easy answer to facial psoriasis. Some products I have tried in the past have quickly cleared it, only for it to return not long after or as soon as I stop using the product. Some quick-acting products can’t be used long term because they will thin the facial skin.
Therefore, it’s important to get to a place of acceptance. That doesn’t mean you accept the condition and don’t treat it, it means you accept the condition and don’t let it stop you from being yourself and pursuing your goals in life.
Psoriasis is important to treat, but it’s also important to accept. Again, as I’ve already said, those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind, don’t matter.
Coping with psoriasis on the face
Facial psoriasis is difficult. I lived with it throughout most of my teenage years and early 20s. At points, it covered my hairline, the area around my nose, most of my neck and the area around my mouth. That, coupled with the severity of the condition in my scalp, made day-to-day living not only hard, but practically impossible.
So, be persistent with your doctor and dermatologist. Do online research into not only products that may clear the condition, but those that will make living with facial psoriasis more comfortable: creams, moisturizers, and ointments, for example. Discuss these with your medical team. Get psychological support. Realize it won’t be forever. And lastly, laugh and be happy.
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