When you hear “psoriasis,” you probably think of red, irritated skin.

And while that’s partially what it is, psoriasis goes much deeper than that.

As a result, skin cells pile up on the skin surface, forming those characteristic psoriasis lesions.

psoriasis

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I was diagnosed when I was just 2 years old.

We have a family history of psoriasis.

But I didnt have a formal skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis until I was 5.

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When untreated, psoriasis covers more than 80 percent of my body, so my symptoms are very severe.

Ive had many sleepless nights due to the physical pain.

Sometimes my skin feels like it is burning, and other times, its unbearably itchy.

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I have felt helpless and out of control at points.

You totally have those feelings of, Why me?

Why not all these other kids?

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So I have to acknowledge that emotion, accept it, and move on.

Im also a former ballerina, and in ballet my psoriasis was no secret.

I would move my legs and bleed through my tights because my skin would crack.

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I missed out on roles because of it.

But ballet is also where I found my strengthit made me feel present and capable.

Dance, do a yoga class, go for a long walk, whatever makes you feel strong.

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I had just started junior high when I developed very thick, itchyplaque psoriasison my scalp.

The patches would get thicker over time and bleed when I scratched them.

By my 20s, it was all over my body.

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From ages 12 to 28, I was a mess.

Sometimes I wear tights under dresses, even in warm weather, because Im still not always completely confident.

Right now, the hardest thing I deal with is my mobility.Psoriatic arthritisis wreaking havoc on my joints.

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You have to go with the ebb and flow of psoriasis.

Experiment with things that work for you.

I ignored mine for a while and tried to be in denial and be a normal teenager.

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But my normal was having psoriasis, so I had to change my definition of normal.

I was first diagnosed in high school.

The spots started on my elbows and looked like red flakey patches.

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Now, I have spots that I cannot get rid of on my elbows.

I dont think theyll ever go away.

I also have spots on my scalp and knees.

I have tried everything as far as treatments go.

Every day, I am considering my psoriasis triggers.

You really just never know what could cause a flare-up at any time.

My sons notice it and tell me, Oh, mommy has a boo boo, and kiss it.

So it affects their lives too.

When I’m working on the computer, just leaning on the desks hurts my elbows.

When I’m doing my makeup, I notice the patches.

Its constantly in the forefront of my mind.

The first sign of psoriatic arthritis I noticed was having knee pain in the morning.

I thought maybe it was some weird growth spurt.

My knee would feel like it was giving out when I stepped out of bed.

I couldnt support myselfI thought maybe I sprained it.

After a few doctors appointments, I learned that it was psoriatic arthritis affecting my joints.

Sometimes I even feel pain in the middle in the night.

Not everyone who has psoriasisdevelops psoriatic arthritis, but I think its important to watch out for symptoms.

The sooner you catch it, the less joint damage it can do.

If you wait too long, the joint damage can be irreversible.

Many people think that psoriasis is just a skin thing.

Psoriasis isn’t just an external disease, its an autoimmune disease that starts from the inside our bodies.

We have to treat the source inside our bodies.

I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed with psoriasis.

I had one tiny spot on my left arm, maybe the size of a dime.

My parents had really mild, almost nonexistent,eczema, so they assumed it was eczema.

But I didnt understand what that meant at the time.

I had plaque psoriasis.

Before I knew it, everything was changing.

I ended up getting it from the top of my foot to the tip of my head.

That transpired over the next few years.

People thought I looked like I was burned all over my body.

It appeared like big red slats covering my body.

I developed psoriatic arthritis when I was 19.

I thought, Isnt arthritis what old people get?

I had never heard of anything like it.

I ended up not being able to walk without pain for several years of my life.

I ended up having to take medication many years ago, and thats been really helpful.

But I also have self-care techniques in place to make it more holistic.

Theres emotional trauma that comes from having a health condition like this thats very debilitating.

So I meditate and am very spiritual.

I take time to be still and find my center, to feel grounded and stable.

I just needed something bigger than myself to believe in because my body was so challenging.

There have been lots of hard parts about living with psoriasis for 17 years.

I’m also an Ayurvedic practitioner and I teach people how to live healthy lives.

So sometimes I’ve felt like a fraud for having an autoimmune disorder that cant be cured.

I never had skin issues until I moved to New York City.

I initially thought maybe it was just a reaction to being in a new city and environment.

This could take months depending on your treatment method.

Sometimes it leaves scars and it can affect your self-esteem.

I’m extremely thankful that my lesions have all shrunk and disappeared after each breakout.

It affects your body inside and out.

Psoriasis can have a direct impact on your joints and body inflammation.

I wish people knew that psoriasis is extremely common.

So if you see someone who looks like they have a skin disease, don’t freak out.

I was about 16 when I first started noticing it.

I used to wear headbands, and they would get caught on scaly patches of skin in my hair.

I went to appointment after appointment trying to get it figured out.

But the telling sign that my doctor noticed when I was finally diagnosed waspitting on my fingernails.

As a teenager and young adult, it was horrible.

Thats not what young college girls are normally dealing with.

People also pass judgment, and I get the vibe sometimes that its totally subconscious.

For example, if you scratch your head, people immediately start scratching their head.

My psoriasis is mine.

I feel like apologizing, but this is just a chronic condition I have.

I cant really apologize for that.

I was diagnosed in 2004.

The first thing I noticed was a patch on the inside of my wrist.

I originally thought it was ringworm because it was circular.

My mom took me to the doctor and they thought it was ringworm and gave me an antifungal cream.

Unfortunately, using the cream seemed to make my psoriasis flare even worse.

It got everywhereIm talking like 70 percent of my body.

It was an eight or nine month process.

It really started to flare up this past year.

It feels likejoint painand stiffness, especially in the morning or if Ive been sitting too long.

My shoulder joint is very painful.

For instance, even now, my legs are clear but I still feel self-conscious about wearing shorts.

Ill ask my husband, Can you see this dark spot on my thigh?

And hes like, No one would notice that!

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.