Surviving The Teen Years With Psoriasis

Psoriasis can be emotionally difficult to handle at any age. Handling the stress and social implications of having psoriasis while a teen can be more than embarrassing it can be social suicide! How can a teen cope with the everyday challenges of being a teen AND those of having psoriasis at the same time?

Like most things in a teen’s life there are two extremes to having psoriasis. Either you show little emotion at all over having to deal with it or you over react and have an intense emotional outburst every time you experience a flare-up of psoriasis. The intensity of the emotional reaction seems to have little to do with how much psoriasis you have and more with the individual's ability to handle stressful situations.

Teens often anticipate how they will react to different situations, especially social ones and knowing ahead of time helps them to be prepared for what may happen. Here are some common scenarios that teems face who have psoriasis.

Self-esteem issues and feelings of depression in regards to accepting that you have this skin condition that can potentially ruin your life! The teen that feels this way can benefit from attending support group meetings or individual therapy sessions. They can also discuss how they feel with a trusted adult or their doctor.

Feeling that they need to be able to learn some coping skills is something that is quite common, especially in the newly diagnosed teen. Techniques are learned while attending group meetings, from other teens who have psoriasis and from your doctor or dermatologist who has seen and talked to many other teens before you. There are lots of books, and Websites devoted to helping teens learn to cope with their life with psoriasis.

One of the toughest parts of dealing with psoriasis is realizing that when it clears up, it is not over. Remission of symptoms is not forever; a new flare-up will be just around the corner. Understanding some of the conditions that trigger flare-ups can be useful in helping to avoid frequent flare-ups. Keeping a journal of what you were doing, what the weather conditions were, what medications you were taking etc., just before your flare-ups can help you to identify a pattern so that you can determine what your triggers are for psoriasis.

Some tips on coping on days when you just do not have the energy to answer a million questions about your psoriasis:

Wear long sleeves to cover up flare-ups on your arms.

Wear cover-up makeup to make reddened skin disappear on your face. Make sure that it is dermatologist tested makeup so that you don't aggravate your psoriasis. Always let any topical medication dry on your face first before applying moisturizer or makeup.


When asked about your psoriasis you can choose to ignore the question or you can have a pat reply ready, "I have a skin disease (psoriasis), that is not contagious".

Your skin does not make who you are; you are who you are on the inside as well as whom you are on the outside. Do not let your skin condition stop you from enjoying life to the fullest. Keep busy, be active celebrating all life has to offer and you will be surprised just how little your psoriasis will bother you.

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