Living with psoriasis

Dermatology Nursing, Dec, 2008 by Linda Cornish, Susan Kleinstein

Patient #1: 59-Year-Old Female

When were you diagnosed with your disease/condition?

At the age of 25.

When and how did you find out you had the disease/ condition?

My dermatologist told me I had psoriasis when I was 25 years old.

How would you describe your appearance?

Very good.

What kind of education and support were you given at the time of your diagnosis?

I received information from the National Psoriasis Foundation and from the doctors at UCSF, and the dermatology department and doctors at Stanford Medical Center. I had very good support from family, friends, and church.

How has your disease/condition affected your life, physically and emotionally?

At first my psoriasis affected me emotionally because people would stare and didn't want me to touch them. But support and learning more about my condition made me able to overlook and educate people. Now my condition does not affect my life.

What would you like health care providers to know about treating people with your disease/condition?

Listen to the people and try different medications on them. And let the people tell you what worked for them before.

What worked for you and what didn't (treatments, emotional support, etc.)?

The treatments and the emotional support both worked very well for me.

What do you wish society knew about your disease/ condition?

What causes psoriasis. It's not contagious, We have feelings and hurt like they do when people stare and don't want to touch you.

What would you tell other people who are newly diagnosed with this disease/condition?

Talk to your doctor. Use your medications as directed. Learn what works for you. Learn to love yourself.

How do you think living with this disease/condition will affect your life in the future?

I don't think psoriasis will affect my life too much in the future.

Patient #2: 57-Year-Old Male

When were you diagnosed with your disease/condition?

Three to 4 years ago.

When and how did you find out you had the disease/ condition?

I knew I had something about 5 to 6 years ago but didn't know what it was until I was diagnosed.

How would you describe your appearance?

Okay. Most of the psoriasis is not in. obvious places.

What kind of education and support were you given al the time of your diagnosis?

Not much of anything, just "Here, take this prescription."

How has your disease/condition affected your life, physically and emotionally?

Not anything traumatic. Some embarrassment on occasion and inconvenience.

What worked for you and what didn't (treatments, emotional support, etc.)?

The prescriptions mitigated things, but never ended the condition. The UV has been the most effective, but I've seemed to have reached a plateau.

What do you wish society knew about your disease/condition?

It's not catchy.

What would you tell other people who are newly diagnosed with this disease/condition?

Speak up if something isn't working.

How do you think living with this disease/condition will affect your life in the future?

I have to go to the clinic three times a week for the UV, so that defines several day's schedules.

Linda Cornish, RN, is a Staff Nurse II, Dermatology Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA.

Susan Kleinstein, RN, is a Staff Nurse II, Dermatology Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA.