Sexy with Psoriasis?

[MarchOfTheWee]

Ok folks with 'P',

I know from experience how dreadfully hard it is to feel sexy and desirable when you have this glaring skin condition, henceforce known as 'P'.
It still has a stigma about it as virulent and contagious when it is *not*, therefore people who notice you tend to see the disease and nothing but.

It's even harder coming forth in an open forum where there are sexy and beautiful bodies with immaculate skin being posted left and right. I understand your reluctance and fear, heck, it took me years to find the courage to go on dates let alone post some nudies *winks* on a public forum.

I am making this thread for us and us alone. 1 - 5% of the entire population suffers from 'P' in some form or another and hopefully on this thread you can feel comfortable about talking about your experiences, your desires and frustrations.

For those of you not comfy in 'outing' yourself, feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd care to talk it out.

EDIT:: I realized (with help) that I was too harsh in my barring of non 'P' sufferers to post on this thread. Friends, Family, non idiots are welcome to comment and share

 

[sierra2005]

Hmmm....new here, but can certainly relate. I'd love to hear more about you. I also am a fellow p person.

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

Welcome then, Sierra!

Glad you had the courage to step forward.

Well about me: I started noticing the red patches around age 16 on my elbows. The knees came next and believe me, I was freaking out big time.
It was a long time til I was able to come out of my self imposed shell and be social again.

I'm in a good period right now. Through daily doses of PUVA and a nifty ointment, the patches have been shrunken BIG time to just a few small ones on my elbows and knees. I'd say around 90% remission

Hopefully, (and I know you're out there ) more will come out to play here and share stories, diffuculties, triumphs.

 

[SweetErika]

My husband has a pretty severe case of it. He heard an interesting thing the other day...many people with psoriasis have comparable stress levels and depression rates to those with terminal illnesses.

He first started to notice it when he was 13, and high school hurt his self-esteem. He says it bothers him sometimes, but has pretty much gotten used to it and the reactions of others. A lot of people assume it's road rash or the result of an accident, are shocked to learn what it is, and then the questions about how you can get it and treat it start. Admittedly, when we started dating, I was a little freaked out because he didn't mention it, and I didn't want to bring it up. Once he did and educated me, I never saw him as different or imperfect.

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

Thank you Erika for posting!

It's weird, for a condition that is so common among the population, not that many non 'P' folks know anything at all about it.

I've heard horror stories about waiters refusing to serve, cashiers not touching money handed out for groceries, etc.

Sometimes you want to scream 'It's NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!'

Thankfully there *are* people like you out there who can look past the skin and see the person beneath

 

[ESH419]

I can relate hugely. I had it show up when i was 17 during my senior year of high school when i had a real bad case of the flu. Showed up on my scalp so i just thought it was dandruff for the longest time until it showed up elsewhere. It sorta played nice for a couple years.. not being that bad. I've got spots now tho that showed up three years ago and haven't gone away =/ My dermatologist was (For lack of better words) a bitch and the medicines didn't help much anyways. It'd take three hours a day to put these medicines on and in two weeks things would look a bit better but then be back in two days. A year ago my parents insurance company found a legal loophole to boot me off the plan even though as a full time student i should have been covered. Now i'm just unemployed with a useless degree (bless ebay tho! =P) Haven't been to the beach in 4 years. Threw out all my shorts three years ago.

fortunately i've been lucky enuf to find someone who doesn't care about it. still not really a fun thing tho.

I got sick of answering dumb questions about it long ago so i actually tell some people it's The Plague and they aren't usually bright enuf to realize it's called the Black Plauge for a reason =P

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

ESH419,

You prove again that there are people willing to see past the surface and love us for who we are.

I understand though about the beach thing. I'm actually going today (Sunday) for the first time in years. I love the beach and figured 'Screw it, I'm going hell or high water'

 

[sierra2005]

Good for you, March! I'm one of those that says "screw it!"....this is what you get. Have any of you ever checked out the National Psoriasis Foundation website? http://www.psoriasis.org/home/index.php There's a lot of great info and friendly people there, although the subject matter is different from here...lol.

I'm a member there (use a different name), and people are very open to helping with specific situations or questions you might have. I look forward to visiting here to make some friends of a different nature. It's great to see others not afraid to come forward to discuss this issue.

 

[ESH419]

Has anyone used that Enbril (sp?) stuff? I noticed it's tv commercials disapeared and when they were first on one of the side effects specifically said "death"

My henious dermotologist actually wanted me to be a test subject for it a long time ago when i still tolerated her and before the insurance company gave me the shaft

 

[SweetErika]

Has anyone used that Enbril (sp?) stuff? I noticed it's tv commercials disapeared and when they were first on one of the side effects specifically said "death"

My henious dermotologist actually wanted me to be a test subject for it a long time ago when i still tolerated her and before the insurance company gave me the shaft

Oh, come on...it was "...and in some cases, death." Not a big risktaker, huh? The psoriasis page on the Enbrel site is down...I'm wondering if the FDA is pulling it or Wyeth quit marketing due to all of the lawsuits.

My husband uses a steroidal ointment that works pretty well (providing he applies it everyday until it's under control, which I freely nag about) and Dovonex. He's unwilling to go the pill or injection route.

 

[AppleBiter]

It came on, for me, at the age of 18. Thankfully, I've only had it on my scalp for the most part. Occasionally, I'll get patches on my eyebrow or cheek. That scares me because I don't want it on my face. People always think I have the worst case of dandruff that they've ever seen or they'll see a bad red spot in the part of my hair and remark, "Oooh, what happened to your head?" *sigh* On days when I can't brush my hair in a way that covers it, I won't leave the house without a hat.

Still, I feel fortunate that the times it pops up on my face are rare (so far) and that I haven't had to deal with it on other areas of my body. -- to fellow P sufferers.

AppleBiter

 

[SweetErika]

It came on, for me, at the age of 18. Thankfully, I've only had it on my scalp for the most part. Occasionally, I'll get patches on my eyebrow or cheek. That scares me because I don't want it on my face. People always think I have the worst case of dandruff that they've ever seen or they'll see a bad red spot in the part of my hair and remark, "Oooh, what happened to your head?" *sigh* On days when I can't brush my hair in a way that covers it, I won't leave the house without a hat.

Still, I feel fortunate that the times it pops up on my face are rare (so far) and that I haven't had to deal with it on other areas of my body. -- to fellow P sufferers.

AppleBiter

If you can stand the smell, leaving Neutrogena T-Gel (or something else with coal tar, though I think t-gel has the highest amount on the market) for an hour or so helps the scalp. My husband doesn't like it, but it has worked for him in the past.

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

Well the beach was lovely this afternoon

I got a good burn going on and took a dip in the ocean (somewhat because of a theory that saltwater helps 'P' ). Honestly, once the shirt came off and I lie down, I didn't feel self consious at all.

I mean think about it, who's going to look at a few red spots when there are 500 lbs guys in Speedos, nearly naked women, or seagulls trying to steal your lunch?

After week of tanning in my yard plus the beach, the areas on my arms are nearly non existant. My legs aren't responding as well to the sun though for some reason. There has been *some* improvement there but nowhere near the quick vanishing on my arms.

So to all 'P' sufferers, go hit the beach...it'll do your soul well

 

[ESH419]

I've found that prolly the most disgusting thing ever worked the best for me... It was a Friday.. in college... a drinking game.. someone thought it would be fun to finish with 151 proof rum... was sick for a whole day and well... use your imagination =P i should hope i don't have go to farther.

It healed my arm pretty decently and it did come back, but not nearly as bad as anywhere else really =P

My grandpa's buddy also had a skin thing (not P) on his leg when they were fishing one day. And for some reason they heard if you turned a fish's stomach inside out and rubbed it on the spot it would work and that actually did too.

 

[sierra2005]

Has anyone used that Enbril (sp?) stuff? I noticed it's tv commercials disapeared and when they were first on one of the side effects specifically said "death"

My henious dermotologist actually wanted me to be a test subject for it a long time ago when i still tolerated her and before the insurance company gave me the shaft

I actually have a lot of friends on Enbrel who do very well. The side effects are very rare and minimal. I personally am in a clinical trial for another injectible drug that's doing very well for me. Lots of new stuff out there.

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

My 'P' is mild compared to most and would only use injectable as a last resort, if everything else failed.

Not to mention that my family has a history of liver ailments and my Doc said that Enebril can seriously raise the risk of liver failure.

 

[AppleBiter]

If you can stand the smell, leaving Neutrogena T-Gel (or something else with coal tar, though I think t-gel has the highest amount on the market) for an hour or so helps the scalp. My husband doesn't like it, but it has worked for him in the past.

Thanks. I used to use T-Gel and it worked for a while, but (like with all treatments for P, it seems) it up and quit working. Moved on to the much nicer scented Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo and that worked for a while, but then quit.

 

[da_machine_girl]

Hey all, great thread.
First of all, my sister has horrible eczema which I know is different to psoriasis but I can testify that the beach does her absolute wonders. Something about the salt water really helps her skin but then the beach cricket, sandcastles and chasing seagulls helps from the inside out.
Second of all, I'd like to offer my 2 cents worth about "sexy"... The sexiest man I know is shortish, a bit on the skinny side and not really my ideal as far as physical attraction goes. But goddamn is he so so hot! He can flirt better than any man I have ever met, he makes me laugh, likes to take the piss (Aussie term - means he likes to makes fun or tease).
He is not afraid to dance.
In. Public. Sober.
It's his attitude towards himself, life, other people, love,sex etc.. that makes him attractive.
He's a mechanic by trade, he's not fabulously wealthy but he is a magnet for men and women alike.
People just enjoy being in his charismatic company.

I really wanted to point out that sexy for me, is a connection.
It's not how someone looks, but that someone makes me think and that someone creats a desire in me to share my time with them.
Hope that helps!

 

[MarchOfTheWee]

da machine girl,
Thanks for sharing you and your sisters story

*nods* I've heard about the saltwater myself *tried it out Sunday but didn't see anything noticable, might need repeated applications for results*
But you are sooooo right about it being good for the soul and spirit.

It's great that you can also see beyond the flesh so to speak to the person within. Now, if we could get everyone in the world to do the same

Have a great day!

 

[da_machine_girl]

cheers

 

[Guest]

Sexy with Psoriasis? You most certainly can be. It's all in the eyes, the way you walk, talk and express yourself. And so much more!

 

[sierra2005]

My 'P' is mild compared to most and would only use injectable as a last resort, if everything else failed.

Not to mention that my family has a history of liver ailments and my Doc said that Enebril can seriously raise the risk of liver failure.

I just want to clarify that liver problems are not a side effect of Enbrel. There are other drugs which this is a problem with, but Enbrel is not one of them. The more serious known side effects have to do with a possible increase in multiple sclerosis (most likely if there is already a predisposition towards it), and lymph system disorders, but these have not been tied directly to this drug. It does also lower your immune system, making you more prone to infection. I'd also like to point out that the incidence of any of these problems is very low, but does have to be reported.

That said, you're right in saying that it is not a drug to be taken lightly for a "mild case", but severity is in the mind of the sufferer, and is a personal decision. There are far safer treatments to attempt first to control the disease.

But back to the original question of can you be sexy with psoriasis, my answer is a resounding yes! It's so much a state of mind and acceptance of your own body.

 

[Gil_T2]

Ok folks with 'P',

I know from experience how dreadfully hard it is to feel sexy and desirable when you have this glaring skin condition, henceforce known as 'P'.
It still has a stigma about it as virulent and contagious when it is *not*, therefore people who notice you tend to see the disease and nothing but.

It's even harder coming forth in an open forum where there are sexy and beautiful bodies with immaculate skin being posted left and right. I understand your reluctance and fear, heck, it took me years to find the courage to go on dates let alone post some nudies *winks* on a public forum.

I am making this thread for us and us alone. 1 - 5% of the entire population suffers from 'P' in some form or another and hopefully on this thread you can feel comfortable about talking about your experiences, your desires and frustrations.

For those of you not comfy in 'outing' yourself, feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd care to talk it out.

EDIT:: I realized (with help) that I was too harsh in my barring of non 'P' sufferers to post on this thread. Friends, Family, non idiots are welcome to comment and share

I'm not a "P" person but have had serveral relationships with loverly sexy ladies who have had "P" & I was so glad they accepted me just as i am.

 

[NorthwestTrail]

Hello Everyone,

I have had psoriasis since I was about 12 and over the years it has gotten progressively worse. But I have noticed that as the 'P' gets worse, I get sick less often.

Every time I meet someone else with 'P' I ask them if they get sick less often than their friends and family. For the most part people respond by saying that they don't get sick that often.

I have a pet hypothesis, since 'P' is an autoimmune disease, I think that it causes your body to create a higher level of white blood cells than a normal person, since your body thinks it needs the white blood cells to attack the skin cells with 'P'.

Any thoughts?

 

[silverkat]

I've had P since I was 6, I'm 23 now. It began on my arms, legs, scalp and face, and most of these spots have never gone away, except for my face. At ages 6-16ish, I feel girls are at their meanest, and, like others that have posted, I have had to endure stares and "eeewwww"s from idiots. I have never worn shorts in public since. I know that puberty is a hard time for everyone, but for kids with P, it makes it that more difficult.

Thankfully, when I hit puberty, my face cleared up. But when I went to college, I guess the stress got to me and made my psoriasis worse, it came back on my face, and spread to my bum and breasts. It made me feel very ugly and unloveable. In all of the relationships I've had, they said that they didn't care about the P and that I was beautiful, and they know people that have it worse than me. But it just hurts some times knowing that my best physical assets (face, breasts and bum) have dry flaky spots gets to me sometimes.

At my last visit to the derm. told me to put this vaseline-consistency ointment on my spots 3 times a day. I did that for 2 days and couldn't anymore...I do not have the time to put what is basically medicated vaseline all over my body 3 times a day, and it feels slimy and disgusting.

But, to answer your question, yes, people with P can be sexy, I feel I am sexy most of the time, but it just gets to me sometimes. And, IMO, sexiness begins on the INSIDE.

I guess this post is long enough already, I could go on and on...if you want to talk more, PM me.

Kat