My body has been wracked with Eczema Psoriasis since I was a little kid. The level of discomfort and irritation would vary, but I generally had at least a few patches all the time. I tried a lot of things but nothing truly gave my any control over the disease. About a year ago my doctor altered my medication to Humira. With Humira psoriasis has become more of a mild nuisance than so incapacitating.
When I was young, I would develop tender, swollen areas on my arms and neck. The disease on my arms was easy enough to hide with long-sleeved shirts, but the flaky, irritated blotches on my neck were simply mortifying. At the time, my parents really did not have the money to get the proper medical care, so my mom simply applied some hydrocortisone on the psoriasis to try and control the incessant itch. It caused the psoriasis outbreaks to go away faster since I could keep from scratching at it, but the outbreaks still came and there was no way to hide it.
Unfortunately I did not get Humira for psoriasis when I was a kid. I was essentially prevented from participating in quite a lot of things. I kept myself in decent shape and needed something constructive as a teenager, so I joined the wrestling team in high school. But everybody avoided me when I hit the mat in a t-shirt with red, crusty blotches on my shoulders and arms. All the guys figured I had some sort of contagious disease like leprosy or something and would not work out with me. After a couple days the coach quietly told me it would be better if I found some other sport. I attempted other sports, but anything where I might have physical contact with someone generally ended with me by myself because no one wanted any physical contact.
Today, the psoriasis has caused further complications in my body, and the obvious physical appearance of the disease are the least of my problems. Sufferers of plaque psoriasis have a tendency to develop psoriatic arthritis, and about five years ago I sure did. At first it was just the ends of my fingers that would become inflamed and very tender. After a few months my wrists were agonizing and my hands were almost useless. Gradually, the pain started in my vertebrae. Quickly my back pain was incessant and I totally despondent. My doctor prescribed me some ibuprofen but it was ineffective so he wrote a script for Vicodin. The narcotics really took the edge off, but I was unable to function properly. I had to drive and work so the pills could not be a permanent solution. Now with Humira psoriasis does not deteriorate my bones and cartilage anymore. My daily functions are fairly normal again, without having to move slowly or stop sooner than I would like to. And importantly, I am off the narcotics.
Extra Psoriasis support: http://www.eczemapsoriasisdermatitis.com/