Anne - Guttate psoriasis
Anne, now 55, was first diagnosed with guttate psoriasis at 3 years old and was keen to share her story for Psoriasis Awareness Week 2020.
I'm 55 years old and have lived my life with psoriasis in
one form or another. At 3 years old I was diagnosed with guttate psoriasis and
this has stayed with me. Some periods have been really bad and others I’ve been
clear, although even on biological drugs I still get outbreaks.
School days were hard, I hated PE because I didn’t want to
get undressed in front of the other girls and I had very little
self-confidence, I would now strike up a conversation with someone who stares
at my skin but back then I felt ashamed. Being a teenager and young lady were
particularly hard, I could never wear the pretty tops and dresses that my
friends wore in the summer and even though I’m not a fan of winter I was more
comfortable in my skin because I could cover it up.
Over the years I tried every topical cream available, had
ultra violet treatment at the hospital and spent several weeks at a time as a
dermatology in-patient. I’m now on a biological treatment so my psoriasis is
much better, but how I would love to have a nice, fragranced bubble bath and
not have to coat my skin in thick, heavy moisturiser. I think people who don’t
live with this auto immune condition think ‘it’s just a few spots’ – but it’s
so much more than that. It affects you physically and mentally, self-esteem is
low, choice of clothes is tiresome and a quick shower is not in the vocabulary
of someone with guttate psoriasis.
There have been times in my life where I have been unable to
put a pin on my body to show an area that wasn’t covered in guttate psoriasis,
every sore throat would result in another breakout, any stressful situation and
I could visibly watch the spots appear.
My biggest regret of my younger years is that I
was never brave enough to show my skin and this has stayed with me. There are
so many social media help groups now and I would urge anyone who has recently
been diagnosed to join one of these groups, it helps to realise you are not
alone and there is help out there, above all else be brave, show your skin and
together we can stop the stigma that goes with guttate psoriasis.
Read more real-life stories from people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.