People looking at your psoriasis...

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Posted Tue 31 Jan 2012 18.57 by Pete

I've got it on my hands so it's quite obvious, was wondering if anyone's got any tips for dealing with people's reactions? Mostly I just try to explain what it is and that it's not contagious.

Posted Wed 1 Feb 2012 19.37 by EmilyB (edited Mon 6 Feb 2012 10.09 by EmilyB)

Always a tough one - at least it's winter so gloves are ok. Sorry I can't help much - hopefully someone else can be better :-)

Posted Thu 2 Feb 2012 11.47 by Ricscott
I suffer with it severely.

I work in the public sector and am also at university so I know exactly how it feels to have people stare. I have p on my forearms and face. You have to make the most of any spare time you have to keep it moisturised to minimise obvious red or scaly patches, previous night works well as it calms down while I sleep, especially if I shave. I've pulled a sicky and cancelled nights out before now when its been really bad so you need to keep on top of it to Make the best from a bad situation.

Posted Thu 2 Feb 2012 12.10 by Ricscott (edited Mon 6 Feb 2012 10.09 by Ricscott)
I suffer with it severely.

Just realised i didn't answer your question. I'm so used to people staring that i rarely notice it anymore, there are times when kids will stare but i chalk that off to them being inqusitive and not knowing what p is. There comes a time you realise there isn't much you can do, just attempt to keep it under control.

Posted Mon 6 Feb 2012 10.11 by Pete

Thanks, Ricscott, you're probably right about making time to treat it and moisturise, does help. Also you're right about kids staring too, they don't know what it is is all. A bit more awareness would be great. I've cancelled nights out because of my pso too! Reckon we all have at some time or another.

Posted Wed 15 Feb 2012 19.34 by PrisK
I have had psoriasis for over 17 years now. I once was covered on more than 75% of my body, tried many treatments...and just stopped everyth

Hi Pete, it is a tough one indeed. But as Ricscott says, keep it moisturized. I used to have p on my hands when it started (and I was 14, the best age for that, isn't it?!). I was always explaining to people close to me what I had - anticipation was the key. As for people in the streets, i was hiding my body a lot with long sleeves all the time so it never really happened, or maybe I can't remember. Anyway, don't let it ruin your life, if people stare, just stare back or smile and they will just look away!

Posted Fri 17 Feb 2012 14.51 by cathy92 (edited Mon 5 Jan 2015 15.45 by cathy92)
I have been affected by psoriasis since the age of 7. I now continue to have flare ups if I am not on meds

Hi I like to explain to people about my psoriasis, I would rather tell them exactly what it is I have than let them make their own judgement. Im at university too so know what it feels like when people are looking. I feel that if people have a problem with my psoriasis then they arent worth knowing anyway! x

Posted Fri 24 Feb 2012 22.33 by scotlass
I have psoriasis

I've got psoriasis on both my hands too, and its getting worse. I'm trying all sorts of treatments from the dermatologist but isn't helping. I'm also fed up with people staring at my hands. I've also found that if your paying for things, the cashier can be quite rude, which i find upsetting.

1 Posted Mon 5 Mar 2012 22.38 by MrLeper (edited Mon 5 Jan 2015 15.45 by MrLeper)
I have it

If anyone starts proper staring rub your hands in their face and tell them they now have HIV, hilarity ensues. If someone's being a dick and making fun, slap them. If someone's just generally being inquisitive i just explain what it is too them and then everyone can get on with thier lives.

Posted Fri 9 Mar 2012 15.47 by Bobertern (edited Mon 5 Jan 2015 15.45 by Bobertern)
I have a psoriasis for over 20 years. I have patches all over my body, hands, face etc.... It destroyed my self. Incidence when I was younge

I have p all over, hands, legs, arms, face, body, used to put me off wearing short sleeve things and going swimming, which I love, then one day I gave my self a slap and thought sod everyone else it's my life. So what if they stare it might hurt to begin with but it'll soon pass.

Posted Mon 12 Mar 2012 10.57 by Mia_Sohma (edited Tue 16 Sep 2014 18.35 by Mia_Sohma)
I have psoriasis all over my body and psoriatic arthritis. I have suffered with it for about ten years now, approximately. I'm making progre

I know it's a bit cliché but I just ignore it, really. I've never really been able to blend in with other people, even before developing a skin condition that somehow made me 'different' from everyone else. It definitely affects me in summer because I think I do tend to cover up more due to my skin, but I have other self-confidence issues that impact on this decision. If I do notice someone staring or I want to explain it to someone, I generally start with my usual spiel: 'it's a hereditary skin condition in which your skin cells grow to fast....' Then everyone seems to think I have eczema -_-

Posted Wed 14 Mar 2012 20.45 by michaelswims (edited Tue 20 Mar 2012 18.20 by michaelswims)
Yes

My fingernails have disintegrated and my finger joints are swollen. As I work in food manufacturing I am deeply conscious of people looking at my hands. Although I have informed the occupational health department, I worry about my long term prospects within the company

Posted Thu 15 Mar 2012 11.49 by saintsfan (edited Tue 20 Mar 2012 18.22 by saintsfan)

For michaelswims Have read your post with concern and have some practical points which you might find useful. From my experience, OH departments aren't always the most on the ball when it comes to conditions outside their usual remit. Try and be proactive about providing them with as much positive information as possible about psoriasis and, what sounds like, psoriatic arthritis. If you're not already, see your GP about it and, if necessary, insist on a hospital referral to both dermatology and rheumatology. If the condition of your nails and/or joints is having an impact on your work (and will do for some time) you may well be covered under the Disability Discrimination Act. If your hands become an issue for your employer, it's probably worth seeking help from a union rep, if there is one at work. Should it be necessary for your employer to discuss your continued employment because of the psoriasis given it is a food processing site, make sure they have dealt with it all properly. The DirectGov website can be helpful with queries about how different employment situations should be dealt with. Simply, your employer should deal with psoriasis in the same way as any other long term health condition. Hope that helps.

Posted Thu 15 Mar 2012 22.30 by michaelswims
Yes

Sorry Pete didn't really respond to your question just blathered on about myself. As I am fairly new to this I am not much use but Cathy 92 seems to have a really good perspective on how to deal with starers. Thanks to sainsfan for your concern, I am in the process of seeing consultants etc

Posted Tue 20 Mar 2012 18.18 by Caspar (edited Wed 2 Apr 2014 20.47 by Caspar)
Suicidal thoughts Hiding as much as possible Shame and embarrassment Blaming myself and people and things I think have provoked the illness.

Until quite recently, my hands weren't bad, but I've never even seen pictures as bad as my legs are now. Yesterday on a hike up a stream I had to roll my trousers up to avoid them getting wet. My students never asked me why my legs looked like they'd just been burned by a blowtorch, and I never said a word either. I think you're doing one better than me by explaining, but maybe we are all too self-conscious about what people think. Isn't that even a good theory about why we get this shit disease? Yours in solidarity ...

Posted Sun 8 Apr 2012 09.34 by Mark
Had Psoriasis since i was 13 -mainly on either side of torso, sometimes on Scalp. A little elsewhere. Usual issues of embarassment with fla

Hi there, Just joined and saw this thread - bit late now maybe? I agree with both Bobertern and Cathy92. Firsty, why let anyone stop you enjoying the sun or swimming or anything else where you get your kit off! lol. Sod em. Secondly, it is worth explaining what you know about the condition. You'll soon find out who your real friends are. I followed the above about 20 years ago and don't care what people think now - feels good too.

Posted Mon 28 Jan 2013 10.46 by SamFos
I have suffered from recurring psoriasis since my mid teens. It goes into remission for years sometimes, but always comes back again.

HI there, I'm a newby here, but like a few of the other posters I used to be really self conscious about it and people staring at me. But I've more or less got used to it. I mainly get it on my arms and body, so it's fairly easy to hide, and I'm not so bothered about the summer as I've never liked beaches anyway - on holiday I'd rather do anything than get bored lying on a beach all day. Like you, I try to explain to people, and once they realise it's 'just' psoriasis, not contagious and not some sci-fi type flesh-eating disease, they're usually fine.

Posted Thu 21 Aug 2014 17.29 by fruitbat46
hell yes, and PSA

Hey you, What you have to do is accept that its there and it shows sometimes. Who the hell cares if retards stare, they carnt help it. You don't need to cover it up, just be yourself. I have it all over now but sod what folks think hun, honestly. You are already doing the right thing by telling people what it is and its not contagious to them. Write to me anytime for a chat, and I mean that too. love Mel xxx

Posted Fri 19 Sep 2014 01.57 by Vaanan
Whole body..high inflammation going to be 6 years.

Hi Pete, Well when dealing with people, some undertand and some don't and when we are talking about psoriasis, of course we know it is not contagius but people offend find uneasy seeing the flakes, silvery scales and red patches. So they tend to look us down or start moving away. Am a psoriasis patient for 5 years and now in the mid of curing and so much relief. What i do is i keep clean my self, wear long hand shirts and if my forehead or face had ones i try to keep it clean by applying creams. Univate cream works well but i don't use it much. Whatever it is, should not stay away from people and situation. Cheers Vaanan - Malaysia

Posted Mon 5 Jan 2015 15.44 by SusanPrima
Have suffered for 70 years.

I have suffered from psoriasis for 70 years. When I was only 3 years old someone accused me of having leprosy - I didn't even know what that was - asked my Father and he showed me the chapter in the Bible about it - then I thought I would be sent to the catacombs. Problem has continued all my life - now I ignore people - or laugh in their faces - the only way.
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