I AM A PSORIASIS SUFFERER

and let me tell you it has not been FUN!

THE EASIEST WAY FOR ME TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT PSORIASIS IS, IS LIKE THIS:
YOUR SKIN GROWS NEW SKIN CELLS EVERY 28 DAYS..YOU ARE CONSTANTLY SHEDDING DEAD SKIN CELLS THROUGH OUT THE MONTH MAKING WAY FOR THE NEW CELLS. NOT FOR ME AND OTHER PSORIASIS SUFFERERS. THIS PROCESS HAPPENS EVERY 4 DAYS. OUR CELLS GROW EVERY 4 DAYS SO THERE IS NOT TIME FOR OUR DEAD CELLS TO SHED AND MAKE WAY. THEREFORE THEY PILE UP MAKING THESE ACHY, SCABBY LOOKING LESIONS.

I first developed my first lesion when I was just 11. It was a spot on my leg and my mom thought it was ringworm. So we tried treating it over the counter. Much to my surprise my legs started breaking out with the same lesions. Before I knew it, half of my body was covered with what was diagnosed as Psoriasis.
It was very hard during my teenage years. Kids don't understand and the skin disease was fairly new to the public eye. I would wear long sleeves and jeans in 90 degree temps because I was so embarrassed. I wouldn't wear bathing suits or change in front of my friends.
I tried several treatments. There is NO cure. You can treat it and it may clear up for a short while but it comes back. When it comes back it is usually worse. I have done, creams, steroids, coal tar treatments, UVB light treatments under a doctors care. I even had a short stay in the hospital because the treatment wa so harsh I couldn't come in contact with any OUTSIDE light. I also did the Methotrexate medicine which was scary to me. Nothing worked. For awhile, it would clear in the summer and come back in the winter. Something about the UVB lights from the sun cures it temporarily. I went to FLORIDA for one weekend. Yes 3 days and it cleared up. I was so amazed and felt like it was a miracle.
Psoriasis does terrible things to your self esteem. Especially when you are a teen. You are already dealing with the normal growing pain and puberty issues and then you throw this in and WHAM it's a punch in the face.
I just dealt with it. Although I always hated my body. What is good being a skinny 110 pd girl if I can wear my cute clothes and bikinis. That was devastating to me then.

Now, as a 34 year old woman I still deal with it. It flares up badly in the winter. It is because I am not in the sun. I try to tan throughout the year to keep it under control and not so inflamed. I have a constant worry that  I am putting myself at risk of skin cancer while trying to clear up this skin disease.

It is tough. I PRAY everyday that my children do not suffer the same. It is looking pretty good so far. It is hereditary and I worry. I try to be strong for them and act as though it's really not a bother. To be honest, I am not as harsh on myself about it as I used to be. I have come to terms with the fact that I have to live with it. I try to ease the symptoms throughout the year and every now and then will find a medicine that temporarily works.
 The latest medicine was like  a miracle medicine.
It was called Champori. For the first time in 15 years I wore shorts all summer. It cleared my legs up enough that I felt confident enough to actually go in public in shorts!!!! I know I shouldn't care all other times but it is hard and sometimes just easier to wear jeans than deal with the stares and questions. My legs are covered over 70%. I have taken a break on the Champori. This is why. Medicine for Psoriasis works in mysterious ways. What works for some may not work for others. What works once may not work again. It seems so unfair to actually find something that works and then it doesn't. That is why I took the Champori break. i was ecstatic to go all summer with nearly clear skin.  So when the weather started cooling off I stopped using it so that my skin doesn't become immune. I felt liberated for the first time in a long time and I want to use it again in the spring and hopefully have the same results. The results for sure will not be the same if I continuously use it.  So FINGERS CROSSED. Check out Champori for Psoriasis and Excema. It is an herbal medicine and once you read the reviews you will definitely want to give it a shot or pass on the information.Click here to visit Champori!

To learn more about Psoriasis go to https://www.psoriasis.org/  This is a very informative website. There are so many. 
Don't disregard tips and tricks that are given to you by other sufferers. This is tricky and what works for one may or may not work for another. You have to try it ALL. Don't disregard home remedies or herbal remedies. I have found that a lot of times these work so much better.

Here are a couple things I do to keep my Psoriasis from hurting in the winter.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HYDRATED WITH LOTION. NO MATTER WHAT YOU CAN NOT LET IT GET DRY. USE VASELINE. YES IT IS THICK AND GOOEY BUT YOUR SKIN WILL ABSORB IT. YOU HAVE TO PUT THIS ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU BATH. VASELINE WILL LOCKING IN MOISTURE. IT DOESN'T MOISTURIZE  ONLY LOCKS IT IN. SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO IT AFTER THE BATH. PAT DRY WITH YOUR TOWEL.
OPT FOR THE 8 DOLLAR LOTION OVER THE 2 DOLLAR LOTION. YES THIS ISN'T WHERE YA WANNA SPEND EXTRA CASH BUT YOUR SKIN WILL THANK YOU. US PSORIASIS SUFFERERS HAVE TO HAVE THICK, EXTRA MOISTURIZING LOTION.
ALSO, SINCE IT IS COLD A GREAT TIP THAT WORKS FOR ME IS PUTTING LEGGINS ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER USING THE VASELINE. IT HELPS LOCK IT IN AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY COMFORTING HUGGING YOUR LEGS SO TIGHT. SINCE THEY ARE SO TIGHT THERE IS NO FRICTION RUBBING AGAINST YOUR SKIN.