This story is a guest feature and a personal narrative of someone’s psoriasis journey. Opinions and thoughts do not represent or reflect Alishambridges.com
“All You Need Is One Thing to Happen To You and Your Thoughts On Health Will Change.”
I grew up with beautiful skin. I always tell my girlfriends I was the teen that bypassed the part of puberty with the blackheads and pimples. I went from having no spots to looking like one hundred and one dalmatians, which will make more sense as my story continues.
I saw many of my friends with issues, such as peeling skin on the face, rosacea, and other types of skin issues. I was happy it wasn’t me but little did I know, years later it would be me. At 23 years old, a little dry spot appeared on my face, and I thought, “No, biggie, it’s just dry skin.”
The dry patch started with a spot the size of a black-eyed pea. I applied lotion on the mysterious patch, but it remained the same every day. The spot was a stubborn, and it would not heal. I called my mother, and she too believed it was only dry skin. Next, I proceeded to call my grandmother because, in some way, we all consider our grandparents’ neighborhood doctors. I asked her, what can I do make my skin better? She suggested I try aloe, which I tried for about three days, but the spot continued to remain the same. I told myself, “if grandma can’t fix it, I’m going to DIE!”
I finally went to a family doctor, hoping she could fix the mystery dry spot. Welp, it only became worse. It started spreading to my nose and eyelids. Spots were everywhere hence the reference I made early about looking like a member of the one hundred and one dalmatians.
At this point, I was furious and did not know what to do. I was told by my aunt to go to a dermatologist my little cousin went to as a child and that he could help me because none of us knew what this strange skin problem was. Nevertheless, I visited this dermatologist, and guess what he told me? I had Psoriasis. No blood test, no test of my skin, nothing? I have Si- who? That’s right I didn’t know how to spell it. Before that day was over, I knew how to spell PSORIASIS from all the research I had completed. I wanted it to be anything but this because it seems you can clear eczema, rosacea and other skin issues but you can’t get rid of Psoriasis. WHAT?!
After all these years of beautiful skin, I thought to myself, “why did this happen to me?”
How has Psoriasis Affected Me?
When I was initially diagnosed, my sister and brother talked about me so bad. Some days saying how ugly it was, I would sit in the corner on my mom’s in the dark and cry. The sad news is that no one could figure the issue out. More doctors, no answers, but more money. Psoriasis left me depressed, at 24 sometimes I would feel alone like it was only me. This can’t be it. I want to date, and it looks like a yeast infection on my face and skin, who wants someone that looks like this? I don’t think it’s enough room or time to express the sensitivity of it all.
Loving The Skin I’m In
Today I’m 32 years of age. My Psoriasis has exacerbated, but I’m taking the phases to control it. However, I have come to love me in the skin I’m in, while taking care of myself, of course. All you need is one health scare, and if your mind is right, you’ll change the way you diet. I sometimes still feel by myself with stares from strangers. I don’t ever wear shorts, and sometimes I wear long sleeves.
Furthermore, I know of many individuals going through a lot more than me. This is what keeps me going. Every morning I wake up I say to myself, someone is going through something worse. Yes, my skin burns, and it might be red and feel like fire. I remind myself someone can’t get up this morning and walk so, Zahra keeps going.
Follow Zahra psoriasis, keto, and traveling journey!
https://www.instagram.com/psoriasisnketo/
https://www.instagram.com/mztravelinghips/
1 out of 125.5 million with psoriasis
