Share Your Story and Experience With Psoriasis

The Staring, Self-Confidence...Patients Share Their Stories With Psoriasis

For World Psoriasis Day, we asked our French, Italian and British Carenity members a few questions to learn more about the impact of psoriasis on their daily life. These are their stories:

"Don’t go near her, she’s dirty, she has a dirty house"

36% of our members who responded to the survey have psoriasis that they would consider visible. For 31% of them, they would consider it very visible. Psoriasis plaques are mostly located on the elbows (71%) and scalp (69%), which can cause derogatory remarks to be made: “scales get everywhere when scratching, on the sofa, in bed and on your clothes. It’s makes me very uncomfortable.”

"Went on holidays and didn't enjoy myself because I was self conscious of my skin…ended up just covering myself up"

62% of the members have a complex with their psoriasis. For nearly one in two members, the visual aspect of the disease is the most embarrassing element, ahead of itching and pain. And for good reason, as 66% of them have already suffered hurtful comments or have been disturbed by the staring of others. The challenge of going to the pool and putting on a bathing suit are two themes that our members regularly mentioned in our survey. Self-confidence and morale are the two aspects of daily life that are most affected by psoriasis.

"My sister didn't want me to touch her son for fear that I would give him my illness. »

In supermarkets and shops alike, many members explained to us that cashiers or salesmen avoided physical contact, sometimes without tact. Professional life is also a subject that our members have talked about. The workplace does not escape its share of disappointments: “I am a nurse and in work I constantly get asked “oh, what’s that on your elbows!” In disgust usually. It’s as if I shouldn’t be nursing because they think I have a contagious disease. It always makes me feel awful, but I smile and brush it off.” Another patient, who works in catering, cannot wear a skirt, even when the temperature is close to 40 degrees because of the presence of her psoriasis.

These response are from the Carenity members from our European platforms: France, Italy, and the UK.

Do you share these feelings and experiences? Do you agree with our European members?

Comment and/or tell us your story.

Survey of 116 members on Carenity platforms in France, Italy and the United Kingdom, October 19-26, 2018.