I start telling  my story and hope to encourage other psoriasis patients to do the same.

Psoriasis pretty much affected my live in a severe way since it was discovered on age of thirteen in combination with vitiligo. Before psoriasis was diagnosed I was a  happy child enjoying life in every way. I was an actor at that age and performed in a lot of plays at school and played at the local theatre. After the diagnoses I got a shy, closed and pretty messed up guy. I felt ashamed, ugly and insecure as a result I had hyperventilation and panic attacks.

Life became a daily struggle to me. The dermatologist at that time told me there is no cure available and pretty much told me to accept it and that’s it. That was such a disappointment too; my thrust in medical treatment vanished immediately.

Years went by and living in my own save, protected world resulted in not really living for years. Talking to a psychologist at age 29 helped me accepting this incurable non contagious disease and helped me to find some trust in people again. With her help I started to visit a dermatologist again and she advised me to start talking about my psoriasis.

Now I write about psoriasis at my blog, I started talking about it to friends and family and even at work I shared my ‘big secret’. Surprisingly it helped me in a great way to start living again!People react positive and understanding and share their own life struggles.

There is a reason to tell this story. I haven’t been living for almost 17 years, missed out on chance to enjoy life. I hope dermatologists are aware of the role they play in giving people hope ,faith and confidence.

If my dermatologist at the age of thirteen had taken my condition seriously at the time it would have helped me dealing with psoriasis. Sure there was still a road to take in accepting the disease and overcoming the Shame of Psoriasis.

I am now thirty years old and finally I feel alive again! Still struggle with psoriasis and vitiligo every day, but at least I have thrust again, talk to people and started to enjoy the beauty of living.

Sebastiaan, Netherlands

Suffering from psoriasis, start talking! Share your story now