Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to reproduce too quickly, resulting in rashes and flaky skin. Kara has been living with the condition since she was seven. Here, she talks about her earliest, scariest outbreak...
It all started from about a year after I was born. My dad was feeding me, when he found a strange mark above my eye. Then flakes started appearing on my scalp. My mum took me to the doctors, and I was diagnosed with psoriasis.Guttate psorisis in a boyEasy to deal with at first

It all started from about a year after I was born. My dad was feeding me, when he found a strange mark above my eye. Then flakes started appearing on my scalp. My mum took me to the doctors, and I was diagnosed with psoriasis.

Easy to deal with at first

Back then, I didn't really understand what was going on. About twice a year, flakes would appear on my scalp and I would have to use this horrible cream which was left on over night and washed off in the morning. Nobody really noticed, because it was on my scalp. I learned to live with it, and didn't think myself different.
But one day, when I was seven, I woke up with a sore throught. It lasted for 2 weeks, and I could barely talk! I was off school for a few days it was that bad. When it went away, I was so happy because I had been losing sleep because of it. Everything went back to normal.

Freaked out

I remember the day I found the rash on my arm. The first time I was mega freaked out and went home. My dad was concerned, but wanted me to stay at school. The rash had disappeared by the time I went to bed. The next day, it came back around the same time. I went home again, and my dad wasn't happy at all. He told me that the rash was nothing to worry about and that I was being silly. How wrong he was.
The very next day, I woke up with guttate psoriasis all over my body. It was like walking into a nightmare. I screamed and screamed and screamed. My parents thought I was being attacked! They walked into my bedroom to find me sobbing in front of the mirror, staring at my body. Every inch of it, apart from my hands, feet, neck and face, was covered in red spots, some the size of 5p coins!

Back then, I didn't really understand what was going on. About twice a year, flakes would appear on my scalp and I would have to use this horrible cream which was left on over night and washed off in the morning. Nobody really noticed, because it was on my scalp. I learned to live with it, and didn't think myself different.

“They told me not to worry...”

But one day, when I was seven, I woke up with a sore throught. It lasted for 2 weeks, and I could barely talk! I was off school for a few days it was that bad. When it went away, I was so happy because I had been losing sleep because of it. Everything went back to normal.
Freaked out

I remember the day I found the rash on my arm. The first time I was mega freaked out and went home. My dad was concerned, but wanted me to stay at school. The rash had disappeared by the time I went to bed. The next day, it came back around the same time. I went home again, and my dad wasn't happy at all. He told me that the rash was nothing to worry about and that I was being silly. How wrong he was.

The very next day, I woke up with guttate psoriasis all over my body. It was like walking into a nightmare. I screamed and screamed and screamed. My parents thought I was being attacked! They walked into my bedroom to find me sobbing in front of the mirror, staring at my body. Every inch of it, apart from my hands, feet, neck and face, was covered in red spots, some the size of 5p coins!
My parents took me straight to hospital, where I was diagnosed. I was given a lot of cream which I had to rub on every night and every morning. And I also had to go to the hospital twice a week to have light treatment, like a stand up tanning booth.
And then more bad news - my scalp psoriasis flared up again, so back came the Cocois cream. I could not believe it! Everything was collapsing on me.

A silver lining

School wasn't so bad. My head teacher stood up in assembly and explained what was wrong with me. She showed a powerpoint all about psoriasis and explained how it wasn't contagious. It really helped, and all my friends were really supportive. Some immature boys in the year above called me nasty names and pushed me in the corridors, but the teachers soon put a stop to that In all
I had my guttate psoriasis for four months. They were honestly the worst four months of my life. The worst bit was when I finally plucked up the courage to go swimming. I walked into the swimming pool, and the lifeguard came straight over and kicked me out, refusing to believe me when I said my psoriasis wasn't contagious. I cried for ages because of that, and my low self confidence went even lower.

Recovery

When they finally disappeared, my life became better straight away. My whole family threw a party and bought me a lovely dress to celebrate. seven years later and I've still got my scalp psoriasis. But I don't mind that, because noone notices it. I have had a few guttate psoriasis scares, but I've never had a big flare up like when I was seven.
I'm just happy that it's all over.

Some names have been changed.