By Danielle W Lee
Psoriasis is a chronic immune system disease that adversely affects the skin. It occurs when the immune system over-reacts and causes skin cells to grow at an abnormally fast rate. It is characterized by scaly patches that are red and silver.
Psoriasis is more common in people living in the northern hemisphere. It is also more prevalent among Caucasians than in other races such as Africans and Asians. Psoriasis is highly hereditary in nature. According to research, 30% of people with psoriasis also have family members who suffer from the disease. If both parents suffer from psoriasis, their children will have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Drugs, illness, and stress are the most common causes of the disease.
Because of the visible and chronic nature of psoriasis, there is much stigma surrounding it. Most people who do not have psoriasis themselves are uneducated about the condition. Thus, a psoriasis sufferer may be met with fear or disgust should he bare his skin in public. Apart from that, many also mistakenly believe that psoriasis is a contagious disease, which can make social situations awkward. Psoriasis sufferers are often banned from public pools or refused service at hair salons. They must deal with rude comments and handle discrimination and rejection on a daily basis. This can result in low self-esteem and a poor self-image.
Although over 7.5 million people suffer from psoriasis in the United States, most people who have it elect to hide their skin in order to avoid facing the painful reactions of others. Often, hiding psoriasis is much easier than explaining the condition.
Psoriasis and Social Situations
Public ignorance of psoriasis can be very damaging to psoriasis sufferers. Psoriasis patients mistakenly believe they are abnormal because of their skin's appearance and they may also have difficulty socializing with others. As a result, they may choose to spend their time alone or slowly withdraw from society, preferring to protect themselves from embarrassing social situations. Through this, they feel comfortable and at ease knowing that they won't be ridiculed by anyone. Eventually, being alone becomes their comfort zone, and many psoriasis sufferers cite a decline in their social life after the onset of their disease.
Public Awareness of Psoriasis
Despite what it looks like, psoriasis is not a contagious skin disease. Raising public awareness about psoriasis will help improve the quality of life that psoriasis patients currently have. An effort must be made to educate the public about the disease and expose the truth about psoriasis. Patients should not be ashamed of their condition or feel that they must hide psoriasis underneath long pants and turtlenecks all year around.
As a victim of psoriasis, you can do your part to eradicate ignorance about the affliction. When meeting someone new for the first time, calmly explain your condition and emphasize that it is not contagious but simply the result of an immune system malfunction. Enlightening people about psoriasis is one of the most helpful ways to change their views about the disease. Often, it can be a conversation starter and spare you from discrimination as well. Baring psoriasis to the public takes courage but it can inspire others by example.
If you are suffering from psoriasis, now is the time to come out of your shell. By simply explaining your affliction to the people around you, prejudice and discrimination can be prevented. Dealing with psoriasis is extremely stressful, so you'll need all the support you can get on your road to remission.
No comments:
Post a Comment