Being Young with Psoriasis: The Invisible Struggle

By Elena Krivovyaz, IFPA (International Federation of Psoriasis Associations)

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that often appears on the skin as painful, scaly patches. But for many young people, the invisible impact can be even more devastating. During the years when feeling included and being accepted matter most, a visible condition can affect daily life, confidence, and mental wellbeing.

Although psoriasis is often associated with older adults, many people develop their first symptoms in childhood or adolescence. In Sweden, around 300,000 people live with psoriasis, and about one-third of them are young people.

“Psoriasis is a difficult disease to live with during a vulnerable stage of life, when belonging and self-esteem are especially important,” says Tarlan Oskooei, Chair of Young with Psoriasis (Ung med Psoriasis), an organization with more than 2,000 members in Sweden. “Shame, anxiety, and mental health challenges, combined with bullying, comments, and stares, are a daily reality for many young people with psoriasis. As a result, many avoid social situations and experience isolation and loneliness.”

Young people living with psoriasis are at the center of this year’s World Psoriasis Day campaign, observed annually on October 29, the campaign aims to raise awareness of psoriatic disease and challenge stigma.

“We have seen that many young people do not feel comfortable talking openly about their psoriasis,” says Elena Krivovyaz, Communications Lead at IFPA. “In our conversations with young people, we often hear that they need more understanding and empathy from those around them. That is why this year’s campaign theme is Look Beyond My Skin — a call to see the whole person beyond the disease.”

We spoke with several participants in this year’s World Psoriasis Day campaign about how psoriasis affects their daily lives and what can help young people living with the condition to feel more empowered and included.

Oscar McGeough, 18, Flen
"I was diagnosed when I was three years old.

When my psoriasis flares up, I get red spots all over my body, and sometimes my skin flakes. When I was younger and had swimming lessons at school, I spent a lot of time worrying about what my classmates would think. I often avoided swimming classes to avoid questions.

I work out regularly at the gym. It helps build my confidence, and it is also a place where I spend time with friends. In the future, I would like to become a police officer.

I have reached a point where I am able not to worry about what other people think. When I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, I am happy with what I see.

My message to other young people is simple: Live your life the way you want to live it."

Anita Juresic, 33, Nässjö
"I developed psoriasis when I was seven years old. Few years earlier me and my family were forced to flee a war in my home country and came to Sweden. My parents believe that my psoriasis might have to do with the traumatic events of fleeing the war.

On a bad day, the first thing I see when I wake up is blood on my sheets. My skin cracks and itches. On days like that, I just want to hide from the world.

As a teenager, I found it difficult to use public showers. When my psoriasis was severe, I wished I could have my own shower, or at least a curtain for privacy.

I have experienced hurtful comments over the years. Those moments can make you want to just disappear. One evening, I decided not to wear the tights I normally used to cover my patches. A security guard at a night club asked whether I had been beaten up. That was not something I needed to hear that night.

Sport plays a big role in my life. Running outdoors helps me manage stress and clear my mind.

My advice to others is to find a community. Feeling alone can be one of the hardest parts of living with psoriasis."

Samvel Gevorgian, 30, Uppsala
"I got my psoriasis when I was 20 years old. I was going through some personal stuff, not that pleasant.

By the time I got the diagnosis, I was already pretty depressed. I must admit, sometimes I felt pretty angry, pretty pissed and more depressed than usual because of psoriasis.

I started to exercise in order to prevent developing of psoriatic arthritis, I actually did run two marathons. Regarding my cycling, I like riding bicycles so much that there was this time I road through half of Sweden.

Psoriasis didn't make me re-evaluate my life philosophy. It rather made me more compassionate for other people. Feel other people's pain."

Christine Zammata, 22, Trollhättan
"I was six years old when I first got diagnosed with psoriasis.
I also experience significant joint pain and fatigue. When you are young and appear healthy on the outside, people often do not understand that you are living with a chronic condition. That is one reason I chose to study remotely. It allows me to organize my studies around my health.

Sometimes I do not have the energy to explain my condition. When a friend suggested going swimming, I once said I had a headache because I did not want to show my skin.

At work, I have had customers question my skin and ask insensitive questions. Those situations are difficult.

It would help if more people understood what psoriasis is and felt comfortable asking respectful questions and learning more about the disease."