Jasmine's Story

Jasmine's psoriasis first started after having tonsillitis and progressed while she was at university. Here, she discusses learning to accept her condition and finding a treatment that works for her.

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My psoriasis started when I was 19 as a reaction to tonsillitis. It started as guttate psoriasis but soon the plaques started forming! I started university and it began to get worse. My confidence became shattered because I had never experienced this before and I felt like people did not understand. Soon my skin was 90% covered, which then unfortunately turned into Erythrodermic psoriasis. This was very painful and needed hospital treatment and caused my mental health to plummet. My hair was falling out from the plaques on my scalp and my body felt like it was on fire! This was also having an effect on my joints.

I tried so many treatments from topical steroids, UV treatment, coal-tar, ointments, topical creams, ciclosporin, and nothing was helping to control it!

Finally, 4 years ago I started Stelara, a biological medication, and my life has improved greatly! I now have occasional flare ups and still have to treat my scalp but manage to keep the psoriasis at bay.

I think sometimes people do not realise there are so many other factors with psoriasis including the effects on mental health, the physical pain that it can cause and, for some, the effects of medication to treat it. I think research and also breaking the stigma is so important and if it wasn't for places like the Psoriasis Association and seeing people like me I would have felt very alone!

Now, I have come to the conclusion that I and other psoriasis sufferers are just incredible super humans that have skin that regenerates at a super speed! Haha