I can't remember my life before psoriasis took it over. By age three, I was covered from head to toe. I was hospitalized because the elasticity in my skin was gone, and I became so stiff I couldn't move. I remember the nurses wrapping me in "green slime" (coal tar) and plastic wrap. Then they would come in and bathe me and peel my flakes and wrap me again.

I was about 90% covered with psoriasis for most of my life, and I tried almost everything to clear it up, from steroid spray to UV treatments. For years I slept in plastic wrap and tar cream, which gave me, at best, temporary relief. Three years ago, I started on a biologic, and now I am about 20% covered, and the plaques do not hurt or bleed. One day, I would love to travel to the Dead Sea for psoriasis treatment. It is supposed to be healing.

Elementary school was hard for me. The other kids would call me names and make fun of my skin. I was young, and if my skin itched I would scratch it. I remember my first grade teacher yelling at me in front of the class because there were a lot of skin flakes under my chair. When she asked me what they were I tried to lie and say they were paper. She then made me pick each piece up. In gym class my skin would crack and bleed, and I would try to hide it. I was always embarrassed.

By middle school I was fed up with annoying questions like "Is it contagious?" I would say "Yes!" and rub my arm on the kid asking me the question! Needless to say I didn't make many friends that way. I always secretly wanted to be in a beauty pageant and loved watching the Miss America pageants on TV, but I never considered myself beautiful.

In high school things were a little better. Although I had a hard time with my self-esteem and confidence, especially around boys, I also had a lot of friends. I played the flute in the band, and I felt like the band kids were my family. Playing music gave me confidence because I knew I was finally good at something.

I have grown to accept living with psoriasis. My husband is very supportive and makes me feel beautiful, but I have struggled with bouts of depression. I feel like I am not very sociable, and I blame my psoriasis for that. I usually do not approach people to start conversations because I feel like they will judge me. I wear pants in the summer and stay away from the pool because I don't want people to ask me questions or stare. I can’t completely avoid unwanted attention, though. Sometimes I realize I am scratching myself in public and people are staring. And every time I go to get my toes done, the ladies at the nail salon tell me what will "cure" my skin. “Do this! Don't eat that!” they say.

My grandma has psoriasis, and my mom has psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. My great grandma, who passed away this year at age 96, also had psoriasis. I don't know if I want to have children because I am afraid they too will have psoriasis.

I graduated in 2007 with a degree in nursing. Having psoriasis definitely influenced my decision to become a nurse. I love helping people and making people feel good about themselves. I work in a vascular surgical clinic, and several of my patients have psoriasis. I hope to bring awareness to the public about psoriasis so that others will understand what it is like to have it. Hopefully, one day we will find a cure.

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