My Psoriasis Journey

2017: My earliest memory of psoriasis making an appearance on my body. I had just moved to Salford to continue my MA in TV and Radio Scriptwriting, and the student accommodation was rather tired and grimy. So, when I noticed several patches of plaque psoriasis, I put it down to a new environment.

I was prescribed steroid creams and, although they never went away entirely, the patches weren't large or numerous enough to cause me much concern.

March 2018: Though I have no recollection of this, my calendar and old Facebook messages point to two doctors appointments on Tuesday 13th March 2018, which led to me sending this single message to my family:

 

June 2018: I came across one of those intolerance tests that supposedly tests for hundreds of potential allergens using a lock of your hair (hindsight would of course tell me not to bother!):

The main reason I did this was because of a recurring cough. However, when the test brought back a list of several 'intolerances', my brother (who was studying nutrition at the time) researched them and suggested that my psoriasis may in fact be hives caused by my diet:

Since the plaques were not widespread, this wasn't something I pursued.

Mid 2018-2019: I went to the doctors countless times as well as the dermatologist on three occasions. I simply felt at a loss with this problem skin of mine, but every time I was just given more and more steroid creams.

Jul 2018- creams, creams, creams...

Aug 2018- psoriasis that was sometimes non-existent

Oct 2018- sadness and frustration

Dec 2018- the patches under my arms were a fierce red, dry, cracked and sensitive. As you can see below, my brother was rightly convinced that food played a part!

Jun 2019- the same prescription rears its head

Autumn 2019: fed up of the constantly reoccurring plaques, I applied to and appeared on a documentary called Skin, where I spoke to a Harley Street dermatologist. I was given steroid-based medications once again: Enstilar Foam (also known as Dovobet) had become a bathroom cabinet regular. I went through a cycle of applying this when my plaques were red and dry, swapping to basic moisturisers such as aqueous cream when they calmed down, and back to Enstilar when they (quickly) became inflamed again.

Interestingly, the suggestion that diet could contribute was dismissed:

NB: I was not signed up for light therapy as my psoriasis wasn't considered to be widespread enough.

Guidance received after my TV show appearance. I don't believe that "the more you use it" is a responsible way to talk about steroid medication.

Late 2019-Mid 2021: My psoriasis remained in this sort of up and down state. I did the smallest bit of research which led to me taking a basic daily Vitamin D supplement, then Omega 3 tablets, then Flax Seed Oil capsules. Other than that, though, it was the usual creams.

Feb 2020- my psoriasis constantly came back and subsided

Autumn 2021: I caught a particularly sore throat- possibly the most painful one I had. Shortly after, I remember looking down at my body and noticing that my half a dozen spots of psoriasis had spread at an alarming rate. I told my family that it looked like I had chickenpox. My response was to simply apply my Enstilar foam all over. This kept the areas of red skin at bay, but I was masking the problem.

Early December 2021: It was as if the Enstilar was losing its efficacy; my psoriasis was quite literally taking over my body. I went to my GP, where- you guessed it- I was prescribed more creams. This time, though, the doctor who saw me diagnosed some of the patches on my back as ringworm. They ended the appointment with a rather unsettling message:

"If you start to feel unwell, call us immediately and we'll take you in as an in-patient".

After purchasing a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) since this latest batch of medication was going to cost about £60, I took the rest of the day off work and called 111 for advice.

The operator reassured me: they couldn't understand why the doctor was "trying to scare me like that". They recommended I visit a chemist for ringworm cream. Yes, despite offering that as a diagnosis, my GP did not think to add this to the prescription. When mentioning my trip to the doctor to the pharmacy dispenser, they also struggled to explain why I was given such a grave-sounding message.

Mid Dec 2021: Home for Christmas and unhappy with the vague, hybrid psoriasis/ringworm verdict, I visited my GP in Beverley. Here, the nurse took a picture of my back and circled the patches they thought were ringworm. I also got referred to a dermatologist, once again.

16th Dec 2021- the patches a nurse believed to be ringworm.

Since these sort of patches were all over my body- legs, arms, torso, armpits, groin and, as you can see, back- I had to meticulously, individually cover each one with a spray of Enstilar: if I had to describe how it comes out, I'd liken it to the end of a can of silly string. As well as this, though, I had to apply the fungal treatment cream to the 'potential ringworm' areas. Since ringworm is contagious, I also had to be careful in terms of not sharing bedding/towels with my family. Exhausting. 

Enstilar (aka Dovobet) is a topical treatment in the form of a foam. It's cold on application, and appears on the second highest step of the Steroid Ladder. I will never put Enstilar on my body again.

I was also suffering from unbearable scalp psoriasis around this time. My head was constantly itchy, and I would sit and scratch away until the floor was covered in flakes. I constantly had to brush it off my clothes and avoided wearing dark colours.

While at home, my family helped apply medication to my back. None of us, though, could keep up with this psoriasis. The left picture was taken on 27th Dec 2021- progress was seemingly being made. The right picture was taken less than 3 weeks later, on 14th Jan 2022. It makes you feel so helpless, powerless...hopeless.

January 2022: I saw the dermatologist in Beverley. He was possibly the most uninterested, dismissive practitioner I had the misfortune of seeing. Other than telling me that I did not, in fact, have ringworm, he said that creams are the only way to deal with psoriasis. I left feeling totally dejected.

End March 2022: It had taken this long- at least 3 years- for me to find out for myself the risks associated with prolonged use of steroid-based medications. Given that they weren't really keeping my psoriasis under control anymore, I stopped using them altogether. The subsequent flare up was the worst I'd ever had.

Mar 2022- the start of my psoriasis spreading to my face. My confidence and self-esteem hit an all-time low.

Mar 2022- I remember feeling despondent.

Early April 2022: I was clueless as to what to do about this skin-ravaging condition that was now hijacking my life. In the hope that it could be Pityriasis rosea, a rash that goes away by itself, I went to Manchester Royal Infirmary's Urgent Treatment Centre. The doctor there ruled this out and confirmed it as guttate psoriasis. This was perhaps the most invested medical professional I had spoken to. However, I soon realised their passion was apparent because they were recommending for me to pay for private light therapy ("People like us work there!"). I was seen as an extra wad of cash for their colleagues.

Apr 2022- how much money must I have spent on prescriptions?

I was sent on my way with yet another little green slip of creams: this time, the paraffin-ridden Zerobase, a hydrocortisone for my face, and antihistamines. I also called my doctor for a light therapy referral.

Mid April 2022: My most recent treatments were less than beneficial; in fact, the hydrocortisone made my facial psoriasis worse. I had lost the confidence to go on dates, I did not want to socialise with friends, and whenever I looked in the mirror, I felt repulsed. Though I was on the light therapy waiting list, I would be waiting 60+ weeks for it. I was being stared at in public, received messages via social media reminding me of the visibility of my problem skin, and asked in a shop if I "have a disease".

It was time for change.

I spent hour after hour, day after day researching guttate psoriasis solidly. I came to the conclusion that it was caused by a strep throat infection (something I still believe). My very first search took me to the Psoriasis Association, a community forum for fellow psoriasis warriors to discuss their conditions, treatments and lifestyles. I began to understand that there were people out there overcoming psoriasis naturally.

I read about their stories, the potential health benefits of certain foods and habits that can trigger flare-ups. I was learning so much every single day: I saved countless bookmarks and wrote down my findings in Word documents and spreadsheets. I soon came across Hanna Sillitoe, an inspirational skin expert who transformed her skin with a new way of living. For the first time ever, a feeling of hope that I could beat this ran through me.

Sunday 17th April 2022: The 'new me' began. I started an elimination diet, cutting out red meat, dairy, gluten, alcohol and all of the nightshade foods. I introduced a selection of supplements into my routine, and ditched any skincare products that contained unfavourable ingredients.

Apr 2022- got to take those 'before' pics to monitor progress!

Just under two weeks in, I then started Hanna Sillitoe's 28 Day Plan to get me into a tried-and-tested routine. Before this, my diet was terrible: high in fizzy drinks, dairy, chocolate, crisps, biscuits, alcohol and ready meals. The plan helped me to  understand the versatility of healthy foods and saw me going from avoiding every single piece of fruit out there in favour of Pot Noodles and tinned meatballs to making fruit juices and vitamin-rich soups and appreciating how delicious avocados are!

My diet improved drastically.

It's common for psoriasis to get worse before it gets better. Compare the last picture of my back to the one below, taken early May 2022. The patches appear to have increased in size and merged with ones nearby.

Early May 2022- perseverance is important.

I was still discovering new things every day in relation to the good and not-so-good ways to handle psoriasis. For example, the need to avoid personal care products containing SLS, and the many benefits of the super spice turmeric! My research was paying off; my revamped way of life was getting results.

June 2022: I enjoyed a 10-day holiday in Gran Canaria, where the sunshine and salty sea boosted my natural healing process.

Early May vs Mid June 2022. This is not a coincidence.

I created a daily routine to help me stick to my anti-psoriasis practices. With it, I feel like I have developed a multi-pronged attack that I use to give my body all of the nutrients and care it needs to triumph.

Early May vs Early July 2022. Patches that were once big, red, deep, scaly and itchy are now barely visible. Above my left nipple, a mark in the later stages of healing can be seen: it's faded and white.

It's July 2022 now, and, if progress continues as it is, I'll be telling the hospital that I no longer need the light therapy appointment!

Mid July 2022- the healing process in motion. Patches appear to heal from the inside out, becoming less angry-looking and less itchy.

My journey is still ongoing, but I hope to post more updates further down the line with totally clear skin. If I had to summarise my feelings, I'd say:

-I'm angry at the nurses/doctors/dermatologists who have shrugged me off and burdened me with expensive, potentially harmful and ultimately useless steroid medications.

-I'm surprised at the lack of diet-based discussions in relation to improving people's health.

-I'm thankful for my family researching alongside me, being around when I was at my lowest, applying medications and cooking healthy yet absolutely delicious meals.

-I'm happy that I've finally found a way to overcome psoriasis.

-I'm inspired to share my story with others in the hope that it can help them, too.

-I'm...dare I say it...grateful for psoriasis. Yep, you read that correctly. Without this condition, my diet would still be awful. Who knows what sort of health problems it could have caused down the line.

We've come a long way!

AUGUST 2022 UPDATE:

Mid April 2022 v Mid August 2022

The healing process is an odd one!

Unbelievable.

DECEMBER 2022 UPDATE:

These pictures represent 8 months of progress.

Click on them to view bigger versions! 

17th APRIL 2023 UPDATE: ONE YEAR ON

This date marks a whole year since I reset and revamped my eating habits, skincare regime and supplement intake. To begin, I flushed out my body with a three-day juice cleanse, leading into two months of strict diet monitoring. I didn’t cut nightshades out gradually- I did so overnight!

A sample of my 8-week food diary

Over time, I introduced new things (adding a daily astaxanthin capsule to my list of supplements) and ditched others (though steroid-free, Doublebase Dayleve Gel was given the chop when I found out it contains paraffins). This has been a constant learning curve in every best way: one of the greatest discoveries has been how much I love watermelon!

In a long-term battle with psoriasis, it can be difficult to keep track of forward movement- in fact, there were often times I convinced myself it was regressing. However, it just takes a once-over from someone you may not have seen for a few weeks to be reassured that improvements are very much taking place.

One of the biggest feel-good factors about reflecting on my one-year milestone is how everything got easier with time. I smoothly transitioned from ready meals to recipe books, tubes of topical steroids to homemade body butter, understanding exactly what my body needs the most both on the inside and outside. Below are comparison pics marking my first anniver-pso-ry (that was terrible- I apologise):

Click on them to view bigger versions! 

Just a few more torso marks to defeat! 

I feel fantastic. My light therapy is now (presumably) just a couple of months away- but should my healing continue at its current rate, I’m optimistic for perfectly clear, guttate-free skin by summer.

JUNE 2023 UPDATE:

I did it :) In about 14 months, I have completed my psoriasis journey.

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...I didn't wish for a sequel, but find out what happened after 6 months of freedom.