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I got strep throat when I was three, and that’s when I was diagnosed with psoriasis.
It was just one spot at first. Everyone knew what it was but they were surprised to see it in someone so young. I remember everyone was really serious about it – everyone was upset. I didn’t know what was going on -- to me it was just a little scab.

I soon began treatment at the Psoriasis Research Institute at Stanford. It was about an hour from my house, but my grandma drove me there two or three times a week, every week, while my parents were working. I tried all these experimental treatments – baths, creams, light box. I did light treatments for a long period of time. Even from a young age I tried all the treatments that were available. As a young kid, it was fun – I got to do the baths and wear the goggles. I remember being so proud that I could spell it, and I repeated the spelling whenever I told anyone about the disease --
"It's spelled p-s-o-r-i-a-s-i-s!"

But it kept on getting worse each year, probably the worst when I was 7 and 8. When I was younger, it covered about a third of my arms and legs. I wouldn't wear shorts or short sleeve shirts during that time. It was always covering my forehead so I had to have thick bangs. I never put my hair in a ponytail because it was always around my ears. Luckily, it always seemed to clear up during summer, when I would be out in the sunshine all day. I looked forward to summer so much for that.

I would get teased about it sometimes, but I’ve always been an outspoken person. Whenever someone made fun, I’d take it as an opportunity to educate them – ‘I can’t control this, it’s not contagious.’ I’d make sure that everybody knew about it. Psoriasis helped me to grow as a person. You have to have challenges to grow.

I'm in college now, studying to get into nursing school, where I hope to become a registered nurse specializing in dermatology patients. I think that decision was influenced by the many nurses I have interacted with, and how none of them ever acted disgusted when seeing my skin. They really helped me and made me feel really comfortable. That always meant a lot to me and I would love to help others in the same way.

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