What Does Living With Psoriasis Really Feel Like?

It’s been 61 years since I was diagnosed with psoriasis. The most common thing that I have been asked by many people is what it feels like to have psoriasis. I've had this disease over 80% of my body most of my life.

Let me tell you one thing, my friend. Having psoriasis is not just any skin disease. It not only affects your skin but also your lifestyle, mental stability, and other choices you have to make in your life. Things such as careers, clothing, friends,  relationships, etc. are all impacted. Well, today, in this article I will discuss my experience with this disease and how I feel about the symptoms of having it.

The itching can be unbearable

The constant itching is worse than the disease itself, well for me it is. Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? If yes, then just imagine the itchiness you get from one mosquito bite which never goes away.  But can you even imagine if it was hundreds of them at once? That’s how I feel.

It’s frustrating as the itching is not confined to one part of the body. Oh no, it’s all over and sometimes it gets hard to control myself from scratching that area. But even harder it makes that part of the body more inflamed and painful. And the worst part of this feeling of itching is not that it’s just not on the surface. It feels internal, which makes it hard for me to control and sometimes it keeps me awake all night as the urge to scratch that part is uncontrollable. It can bring tears to your eyes.

There is also a burning sensation which I feel along with the intense itching. I mostly feel this sensation when the plaques start to flare up. It feels as if my skin is on fire especially when I get out from taking a hot shower or when the weather is too hot and humid. In other words, just imagine this as a severe sunburn that lasts for days or even longer. This sensation is constant which also stops me from wearing any clothes that fit. Everything must be loose and baggy. Wearing clothes that touch my skin makes me feel miserable.

Psoriasis can be so painful

Sensitivity and pain are other things that bother me. Having psoriasis doesn’t only affect your skin or physical appearance, it can also be painful. Sometimes plaques get thick which causes them to crack and makes the skin bleed. Whenever I move certain parts of my body the plaques crack wide open and cause bleeding which can be painful.

Applying anything to the skin that is raw can also hurt a lot and can cause inflammation. Because of this even putting on clothes or moving your body feels like a task.

Overall, if I explain how living with psoriasis feels I would say it’s like having skin on your body that constantly reminds you of its presence through burning sensation itchiness. This condition is visible to everyone, but no one feels the discomfort we are in.

We are all in this together.