What I Hate About Having Psoriasis

I feel this is a crazy question, but people have asked me this question more than once. I have had psoriasis for 55 plus years and yes, I have had plenty of unpleasant times with this disease. If I had to give an answer to this question it would be that I didn’t like the itch more than anything. I would scratch holes in my skin to get some relief. Pouring alcohol on me felt better than the itch itself.

Myths people believe about psoriasis

I don’t think the raised scales or the irritation I would get on my skin bother me as much as it did other people. The pointing and staring made me more uncomfortable; or the remarks to this day that drive me crazy, such as why don’t you put some lotion on that. OMG!!! Really??

Dealing with psoriasis symptoms

My psoriasis flakes a lot. I couldn’t take 2 steps without flakes falling off. I was more embarrassed about that than anyone else. It’s no fun to sit on someone’s dark sofa and get up and have to brush off flakes. People asking me if I was contagious gets under my skin also; why would I be out around people if that was the case? This question always baffles me. I lost count of how many times I have been asked this question.

Lessons I've learned with psoriasis

I hope we all learn life lessons and what it has taught us. We can all teach each other something. My life lessons are as follows:

• I learned that psoriasis is not who I am, but what I have.
• Psoriasis has given me new insight about myself, the medical world, and people.
• I am more compassionate about my peers because of what I've been through.
• I have learned from things we don't understand.
• Not everybody will get it, but I do.

High cost of treatment

Psoriasis is not a cheap disease to have these days. The copays are outrageous. I have paid thousands of dollars on my psoriasis to have another doctor tell me you just as well put water on your skin than to use that medication.

Clothing that irritates my skin

Wool is a material that I can’t tolerate; it makes my skin crawl and is the worst feeling that you can imagine. I wear cotton most of the time. It makes my skin smile. You must realize if you have any type of skin lesions anything rubbing against it can be irritating. Just wearing long sleeves in 100-degree weather to make others feel comfortable made me hate my skin.

My psoriasis peers- what they hate about psoriasis

This is my list of things that other people told me they didn’t like about having psoriasis.

• They would be on medication for the rest of their life.
• They would always have pain.
• They would probably never be able to enjoy cold weather.
• People can’t see my pain and say you looked just find to me.
• Can’t go work in an office because of fatigue and being mentally draining.
• Believing doctors who told them they never get better.

Importance of taking care of yourself

My takeaway on this is that you must take care of yourself in order to take care of others. I have had a lot of challenges with this disease. I will always be an advocate and I will always be a part of finding a cure.

I read this somewhere years ago that we need to take care of our body. It’s the only place we have to live in. This is so true. This is where we will always reside; so, do the right thing and enjoy yourself. Love your outside as much as you do your inside.