Alison's Story
Following
her psoriasis diagnosis, Alison kept quiet about the impact the condition
was having on her. Then, she stumbled across a community of
people who were sharing their experiences on Instagram, and everything changed.
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Hi, I'm Alison (54). I first developed psoriasis when I was 40. It started on my knees and arms. The GP prescribed Dovobet. I knew nothing about the condition or anyone else with it.
It then started developing in other areas, my scalp being one of them. I suffered in silence as people certainly didn't want to talk about my skin, or so I thought...
One day whilst browsing on Instagram, I discovered a support group for people with psoriasis. What a difference this has made to my life! Like-minded people with helpful tips and ideas of things to try (creams etc.), Dovonex and Trimovate being two of the more successful products. I don't use these every day, just when it flares up. Coconut based products seem the best for me too.
Psoriasis isn't just what you see on the outside. It affects you mentally too. Having new friends who really understand what I've gone through to get to this point today has been a positive experience.
Today I have new patches developing. The sun definitely helps my skin and my mental wellbeing (shame we don't get more of it!). Trying not to stress about what I look like helps. If people look, they look.
I keep smiling (mostly) and carry on...
Read more real-life stories from people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Gemma
Gemma, host of The Psoriasis Geek podcast, talks about her experiences of psoriasis from her childhood to now and why the online psoriasis community is so important to her.
Rachel
Rachel shares her journey with psoriasis including, at one point, relocating to the other side of the world to try and find some relief.
Emma
Emma has lived with psoriasis since she was 14. In her story, she talks about the impact it had on her as a teenager and how she has slowly learnt to love herself.
Leah
Leah has lived with plaque psoriasis since she was a young child and in recent years, it has impacted her confidence and work life. In her story, she talks about the different treatments she has tried.
Suzie
Over time, Suzie has found ways to deal with the emotional impact of her psoriasis, incorporating new activities into her daily routine and reflecting on the things she is most grateful for.