Afsah and Naqeeb's Story

Afsah has shared her story with us before, but now, as a married mum, she and her husband open up about navigating Afsah’s psoriasis together throughout their relationship.

Afsah

My name is Afsah and I was born in France with psoriasis pustular and after moving to UK as a 6 month baby and trying all treatments, I started biologics in 2019 and this form of treatment helped me heal. Back in 2021, I decided to accept an arranged marriage and later got married in February 2022 to a handsome man named Naqeeb.

Naqeeb was born and brought up in Pakistan. He was a very mature man who knew about my condition and accepted my hand and throughout the years he’s been nothing but understanding and helpful. My husband has helped me overcome the fear of needles, he comes to most of my appointments and blood test and helps me apply creams whenever I am at my worst, he’s also a good listener which means whenever I am stressed or anxious I can talk to him freely.

My advice to everyone would to anyone looking for love or relationship is to start any relationship with friendship once you built that connection and understanding, that relationship will become stronger. I had psoriasis since I was born so he knew I had psoriasis, but I never spoke about it and I feel like he never fully understood until I was pregnant with my daughter.

I think you have to be comfortable with the person you're with to share how you feel, how’s the pain like etc and my husband never made me feel bad about my condition.

Naqeeb

Hi my name is Naqeeb, I was born and grew up in Pakistan and I married Afsah in 2022. Before marrying Afsah I never heard or seen psoriasis before and discovered it when the suggestion came to marry Afsah.

It was a arranged marriage and I was asked if I happy to marry Afsah and that she has a skin condition. I was very happy with Afsah and understood it was a skin condition but once she became pregnant in 2024, I realised there’s so much more to psoriasis then I thought.

I learnt that there was different types of psoriasis and that psoriasis was an autoimmune disease and affects the immune system and the biologics she takes suppress the immune and also can affect the baby. During the pregnancy I was able to support her by researching about psoriasis and help her by listening to her fears and concerns and talking to her and giving advice where I possibly could. I quickly learnt that talking helped her relax and praying together also motivated her to stay strong.

I wish psoriasis was taught in schools especially in Pakistan where it’s just known as a skin condition because there’s so many layers to psoriasis that people don’t understand. I originally thought it’s a skin condition that means she’ll have dry skin and that’s what most people think but it’s far more complicated than that The skin cells grow faster , when the psoriasis flares it causes inflammation and so much more. But that doesn’t stop me from loving Afsah. If you love someone you’re happy to help and support each other.

My advice to anyone in a relationship who has psoriasis would be, to not judge the book by the cover but to see what’s in the heart. Guide the person you love by finding treatments that will help heal psoriasis. Understand her needs and do little things such as bringing her flowers or making her breakfast I think the little things really help relax the mind - Or plan a activity to do together. If you keep her happy she will feel less stressed or anxious that will help the body feel less stressed and the psoriasis will appear less too.