Embarrassing Illnesses

Im 41 years old, i've had psoriasis since I was 13 years old. It rules my life, has made me the person I am today, I have no confidence at all. It effects everything about me, the clothes I wear, the social activities I avoid, which has a knock on effect to my daughter, I dont take her to the beach or take her swimming,it has affected me starting new relationships, because i panic about how they might react when they see my psoriasis. I have the greatest respect for doctors but they just don't 'get it' as far as the psychological effects go. I feel stupid trying to explain them, it sounds like i'm whining, I thought i was getting somewhere the other day when my doctor offered me counceling to help with my confidence, which i thought was worth trying, then she said 'perhaps it will help you see that people aren't looking at you'. because of that i know she still doesnt understand. It's drving me mad.

I have had plaque psorias since I can remember,coal tar and betnovate never really worked, betnovate would clear it for a couple of weeks not completely and then psorias would be even worse[nock back effect]it has also caused sub atropic skin damage from long term use.Then when I was 19 I was introduced to Ditho-cream [dithonal and for the first time was completely clear for long periods,one year I cleared my psorias before going on holday to corfu and got a deep tan,and did,nt have psorias for about two years I still use it now, it takes about four weeks to clear, I put cream on every day, takes about 15-20 minutes then wash of after about 2 hours or in morning,there are five different strengths,I start with 0.25 then 0.5 then 1.0 then 2.0 I use different strengths on different parts of body 2.0 on knees elbows, 0.5 inside thighs,inner arms where skin is more sensitive,after I have applied the cream I wear dark purple pajamas because it stains! everything including your skin! purple! It will look worse before it has gone.I usauly start treatment in april- may then by summer I can get me body out get tanned.then by about chistsmas the psorias starts coming back slowly at its worst again by march then we start all over again,got to go to corfu again after I have cleared it might get two or three years clear.

I have very sore and cracked psoriasis on the side and under neath my foot i have had creams of all sorts and tablets. some days i am unable to walk they are so cracked i am now waiting to have ultra violet treatmemt.i,m getting very low as nothing seems to work

i have Psoriasis on my knee and i feel uncomftable when people ask me what it is they ask normally everywere i go and i get quiet upset does anyone no any good treat ments wich will help me thanks x

I've had Guttate Psoriasis since September last year but following 4 months of UVB Phototherapy, I'm 99% clear. How long I will remain clear is a mystery, but the great thing for me is I know what works, and I've showed no signs of relapse so far. It makes me cry to think of all the other people suffering from this dreadful disease. It annoys me that the media pay so much attention to other less "visual" diseases yet Psoriasis, which causes unbelievable suffering and depression, gets virtually no coverage at all. I wish everyone who has this the best of luck. NEVER give up. Ever. Do everything you can to try every treatment possible, lead the healthiest lifestlye possible, and make sure you look after yourself. x

I have suffered from psoriasis since the age of 4yearsof age I am now 60years old and this has ruined my life my parents took me to see a skin Doctor they said when he is seven is blood will change and the rash will go it did,nt then they said when he is 14yrs because your blood changes every sevenyrs?rubbish i have tried everything ie ointments that is dont do the pillsour or injections to dangerous i feel for anyone going through this the girls the most i worry for my kids grandkids its been the Bain of my LIFE i try to keep it under control but i suffer achen jiont sore feet all related to this rash tell suffers what to expect no one told ME kindregards 19/4/10

I've had psoriasis froma very early age, but after my dad died in 2002, it got angrier. There's small spots that have come up on my back and stomach, but the bigger areas are the result of injuries. I bathe in rock salt and immolient, and use cream as a quick fix, but other than that, I know I've got it, my girlfriend knows, and if anyone has a problem with it, then that's THEIR problem, not mine. I understand it's easy for one person to say this when you sit there wishing you could peel off your skin and replace it with new skin, but I totally understand anyone thinking like that. There is no cure for this, there is only treatment, but the mental stress it puts some under is a detrimental effect on the disease. Remember, you're not alone. Funny - someone once told me that psoriasis is the next stage in human evolution. Maybe that's made it easier for me to deal with it.

Ive had psoriasis since I was very young I am now 19 and its all I know ive tryed probably every cream, lotion, ointment out there the only thing that seems to make some sort of difference is steroid based creams but it never actually gets rid of it, the most awful part is on my scalp its thick scales and so itchy I wear black where I work and I am covered in scales its very upsetting the only thing that helps is putting vaseline all over my scalp waiting for it to soften and then peel it off hopefully one day it will leave the best thing is also sunlight but dont get burnt! I deal with it but i dont want to.

hi everyone just to let you know ive had psoriasis for 28yrs i developed it when my parents were divorcing and all the comotion that goes with it and i broke out in 1000s of little spots which looked like measles or rashes all over me i didnt get it on my face or hands or feet neck untill say the last 6yrs now my face and neck his tottally covered it got worse when i had light treatment and my face was burning i said at the time to the derm.... that my psoriasis attaches to burns or cut but they said its meant to sunburn you that treatment was 3yr ago now my face his very red all the time and 2weeks out of 3wks it get very sore and red and thick its doesnt get patchy but im always putting Diprobase on which does make it softer but im afraid it makes it much much redder i cant win, my backside legs groin area even all my private areas si covered i found myself pinching myself down there it gets very very itchy, last week the doc said do i want to go on methotrexate but im abit cautiuos has i know its like a chemo therapy which his obviously used for types of cancer so i said i will have a long think about it, it has changed my personality quite abit since on face and hands i found now i live a very reclusive life and yet and one time you couldnt keep me in, it really gets me down from time to time but most the time i just get on with it i gave up moaning or stressing about it has much has it does make it worse if your constantly thinking bout it, ive come to the conclusion that its for life, ive not had a partner or other things so that i dont put myself thru embarrassing times....all i use now his dovobet, diprosalic for scalp dipro-bath and dipro base and just get on with it.. my best advice obviously which your probably sick of hearing his always put plenty of moistiouriser.. GOOD HEALTH AND LUCK TO EVERYONE