Relating To Someone With Psoriasis
You are very likely to come into contact with someone with psoriasis as you go about your daily life. You may know someone in your family who has psoriasis or someone at work or at school. Your neighbor or friend may have psoriasis. It may not be easy to relate to what they are going through with their disease or to even look at them when they are having flare-ups of their skin disease. It helps to relate to them if you know all you can about psoriasis.
When individuals do not know about psoriasis they tend to ignore the person or has it and this can make the person with the disease feel sad or angry. You can also lose out on a great friendship if you do not try to understand psoriasis.
Psoriasis is quite common in the U.S. as it affect up to 7 million individuals and 100 million people across the world. Psoriasis is not contagious, so it has spread so rapidly according to researchers by way of genetics.
Psoriasis can have a big impact on the affected person's ability to function at school or work due to discomfort, pain, itching or restriction movement of the joints. Psoriasis can also bring emotional distress to the individual in regard to how others react to the sight of the skin's appearance. The individual with psoriasis can become embarrassed when flare-ups occur during dating, school pictures, important work meetings etc.
Psoriasis flare-ups are not always the same as there are different forms and intensities of the skin disease. The location of the psoriasis can be anywhere on the body, and in any intensity or symptom.
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of psoriasis in which the individual's joints can be inflamed, painful and sore.
Understanding all you can about psoriasis can help you to relate better and be more comfortable around someone who has psoriasis. You can be more supportive when dealing with someone who has psoriasis.
Knowing about psoriasis allows you to help the person you care about who has psoriasis to stay active and to participate in school activities, or work functions or even to be more active doing things around the house with others. Social activities can be especially stressful for someone with psoriasis.
It may be helpful to listen to the fears and anxieties that the person who has psoriasis as sometimes just having an available “ear” so that they can let out their feelings without being judged or made to feel embarrassed by what they say can be so comforting.
It is important not to assume that you know what the person with psoriasis is thinking, always ask.
Try not to stare at someone's psoriasis, as this will make him or her uncomfortable. They are usually painfully aware of how it looks. Whispers and stares from others can be embarrassing and stressful. Stress can trigger more flare-ups of psoriasis.
Psoriasis can be managed with proper treatment. The individual with psoriasis can lead a normal lifestyle and learn to cope with the emotional and physical demands of psoriasis. Sometimes those around them just need to be patient and as understanding as possible.
