Learning to Cope With Psoriasis is a Process
- Psoriasis is a chronic condition of the skin, and many people living with it may be embarrassed about the red, scaly patches it can cause.
- Learning to cope with the condition can be a process, from learning which triggers to avoid to trying out a few different treatment methods.
- Unfortunately psoriasis has no cure, but there are options to manage it.
- Suggesting a person with psoriasis cover up or that they are contagious (you can’t ‘catch’ psoriasis) may be offensive to them, and should be avoided.
For many people, including many famous figures that have psoriasis, the struggles are often going on behind the scenesor under layers of clothing meant to keep symptoms hidden.
Read MoreTelling someone ‘I didn’t even notice’
People come to terms with their psoriasis in different ways. Even if you are speaking to someone who seems unbothered by their condition, it’s best to avoid commenting on it, telling them they are doing a good job “covering it up,” or anything along those lines. While pretending not to notice may seem like the kind thing to do to spare a friend’s feelings, it may simply not be what this particular friend needs. “[Psoriasis] is a chronic condition which can ebb and flow,” Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a Dermatologist/Rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, told SurvivorNet. “You can have good days and bad days.”Dermatologist/Rheumatologist Dr. Saakshi Khattri explains what psoriasis is.
However, even if the person you are speaking to is having a “good day” with psoriasis, it’s best to avoid denying or downplaying what they may be struggling with.
Asking if it’s contagious
Psoriasis is not contagious. It’s a chronic condition that is often passed down genetically (through families). You don’t have to avoid touching or being in close proximity with someone who has the condition and it’s likely going to offend them to act like you do.
Model/actress Cara Delevingne, who has psoriasis and has spoken publicly about it many times, actually said that people’s ignorance about the disease was one of the reasons she stepped back from the modeling industry.
"People would put on gloves and not want to touch me because they thought it was like, leprosy or something," she told The Times in 2015.
Referring to it as ‘just a rash’
There are several different types of psoriasis and each can present a handful of different symptoms. It is certainly not “just a rash,” even though it may look like one to you.
Depending on the severity of the disease or current outbreak, psoriasis may be interrupting someone’s daily life quite a bit, so downplaying what they are going through is, again, going to be unwelcome for many people living with the disease.
Asking/giving advice about clothes
Unless you have psoriasis yourself, it’s probably best to avoid doling out advice on how to dress/cover up the condition. While some are people feel embarrassed and do their best to cover up outbreaks, others may feel like covering up aggravates the condition more or adds to their stress. Learning how to handle outbreaks can be an arduous process, and unsolicited advice may not be welcome.
Singer and 80s icon Cyndi Lauper, who also has psoriasis, partnered with the National Psoriasis Foundation to discuss how stigmatizing the condition can be, and why it’s important for everyone to learn how to cope on their own time.
"Whether you are a performer, teacher, or office manager, psoriasis can be a challenge at work and impact your ability to perform at your best," Lauper said in a press release. "Learning to figure out how to manage my psoriasis has allowed me to continue doing what I love while still standing out in the crowd but not because of my psoriasis."
Telling someone to cover up may add to the stigmatization and discomfort they are already feeling.
Suggesting treatment is simple
Treatment may very well be simple for some, but it certainly isn’t for everyone who suffers from psoriasis. Some people may be able to learn and avoid their triggers for the disease (like certain foods or stress) while others may need to try other available treatments like ointments, injectable therapies, or phototherapy (exposure to UBV light).
Whatever treatment path someone is taking, it is one that they will likely have to tweak and adjust throughout their lives as psoriasis has no cure. It’s also not just a condition of the skin, and other symptoms can be involved depending on the type of psoriasis.
"It is hard to generalize and say whether it will be progressive for everybody or whether this will just be like a lesion here and there, which sort of self resolves with some over-the-counter (OTC) or topical treatment options," Dr. Khattri said. "The one thing that I would say as a Rheumatologist is that everybody should know that psoriasis is just not limited solely to the skin. You can have a joint involvement in about a third of patients…with psoriasis you can even go on to developing psoriatic arthritis."
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