“Unveiling the Shocking Connection of Psoriasis to Surprising Body Image Struggles You Need to Know!”

Joni Kazantzis was 15 years old when she woke up one morning covered in red, scaly patches that looked a lot like chickenpox. It happened overnight, so her mother thought it might have been a allergic reaction. But within the same week, she received a diagnosis: Gutate psoriasis. That’s a type of psoriasis It appears as small round spots called papules. The papules are raised and sometimes scaly.

As a high school student, being covered in spots made Kazantzis incredibly self-conscious and affected her confidence. In fact, she says she doesn’t have photos from that time because she wouldn’t let anyone take them. The treatment was also an ordeal.

That was over 20 years ago. “When I was first diagnosed, they sent me home with a bunch of creams, really greasy and disgusting creams, with instructions to put them on before bed and Saran Wrap to make sure they stay on all night. I just remember feeling disgusting and gross,” says Kazantzis, who now lives in Princeton Junction, NJ.

Studies show psoriasis can negatively affect body image, self-esteem and quality of life. It can also affect your mental health and cause anxiety in social situations.

There is often a level of stigma attached to the condition, notes Rebecca Pearl, PhD. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida.

“One of the common stereotypes that is documented in the literature and that we hear from patients is the assumption that the fur the disease is caused by poor hygiene, and that people are dirty when they see these physical injuries,” he says.

Howard Chang, an ordained minister who has had severe psoriasis since the age of 9, he says he was bullied in high school. An incident in the boys’ locker room still catches the eye of Chang, now 49.

“A couple of guys from the soccer team really started attacking me. They asked me if I had AIDS and told me: ‘Get away from me. … ‘I thought they were going to get violent,’ he says. “I was really depressed and socially withdrawn, especially during those younger years in college.”

Kazantzis had a group of family and friends who were accepting and supportive of him. It was her assumptions and rude comments about her skin by adult strangers that made her uncomfortable. When she was a teenager, she remembers being scolded by a middle-aged lady for being at the beach with what she thought was chickenpox.

“A simple question would have changed the situation,” says Kazantzis.

Something as simple as choosing what to wear each day can be difficult. This was true of both Kazantzis and Chang. Each tried to hide their red, Scaly skin as much as possible.

“I pulled up my pants until it was probably over 80 degrees,” Kazantzis says.

For Chang, who grew up in Northern California, long sleeves and long pants became a wardrobe staple despite scorching 105-degree summers. The only time he had no choice was when he ran in high school, a sport he loved. Chang just wanted to run, but he couldn’t help but feel “unconscious all the time”.

Joining a faith scholarship in his sophomore year of college and finding a support group of friends, along with his wife, was a turning point for Chang.

“I found acceptance there,” he says. “They saw me, including my skin.”

“As I got older, I accepted that psoriasis it was just a part of my life and it’s going to be a part of who I am,” says Kazantzis.

While treatments like phototherapylotions, creams and others medicines can slow cell growth and prevent skin from flaking too much, there is no cure for psoriasis. But there are steps you can take to make peace with your skin.

It starts with self-acceptance. “I still don’t like psoriasis,” Chang says. “But I also understand that while it’s hard, it probably made me who I am.”

This doesn’t mean giving up, says Pearl. Instead, it is a way of acknowledging what the situation is.

“Even saying it out loud, [like]’I have psoriasis,’ and to sit with it, because those kinds of statements can be really painful,” she says.

Join a psoriasis community. Connecting with others who have similar conditions helps remind you that you’re not alone and builds a “sense of belonging,” says Pearl.

Kazantzis does this through her blog, Just a Girl With Spots, where she shares personal experiences living with and navigating psoriasis on a day-to-day basis.

Chang turned to blogging and advocacy to share her journey, whether it be doctor visits, new medications or social stigma, with the online psoriasis community.

If you’re not sure where to start, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation website. You can also ask your doctor. They may be able to direct you to a local support group or other resources.

Exercise and eat well One study found that exercising regularly can help make your symptoms less severe. If you’re over weightLosing those extra pounds can also help.

“It’s not just what you put on your skin, but what you put into your body. And also how are you handling your stress and you mental health. Everything just connects,” says Kazantzis.

Talk to your doctor before choosing a new exercise routine or diet plan. You can always start with a light exercise like walking and moving forward. if you have any pain or flare-ups of psoriasis, tell your doctor.

Practice mindfulness. Pearl says that skin exposure exercises can help you become more accepting of your condition. This can include standing in front of a mirror, even if just for a minute.

“[N]notice if negative judgments arise, such as about how one looks, and let them go and not hold on to them,” says Pearl.

You can also develop a body-positive attitude by focusing on what your body does for you rather than how it looks. Pearl says she also helps describe new injury patches from a neutral place of emotion. Conscious practices such as mediation and Tai Chi it can also relieve any stress you may have.

Get professional help. Tell your doctor if you feel depressed or anxious because of your psoriasis. There may be new treatments you can try. They may also be able to refer you to a mental health professional. This person can help you get over what you’re feeling. if you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help.