Living With Psoriasis: Managing Flare-ups and Embracing Life
Key takeaways:
Vanessa Scott’s psoriasis diagnosis taught her to manage her physical and mental health.
She knows how her body works and makes self-care a priority.
She now educates family and friends about psoriasis
Vanessa Scott’s message for anyone with psoriasis is this: Stay encouraged; this is the beginning of something better.
“You will go through a lot,” she says. “Love yourself. Remember that you have psoriasis, psoriasis doesn’t have you.”
Vanessa’s journey with psoriasis began in 2010, just 2 years after she was diagnosed with idiopathic transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord).
Now 43, this retired mother of two and grandmother from Pine Mountain, Georgia, embraces positivity. Vanessa shares strategies at family gatherings and on MyPsoriasisTeam, a free social network for people diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, where she also finds support.
Wrestling with the ups and downs of an autoimmune disorder taught Vanessa how to manage her physical and mental health.
Treatment trial and error
In 2010, Vanessa found itchy spots on her scalp. She thought it was eczema, which runs in her family. When she used lotions, her skin cleared up. But the patches returned a few months later, covering much of her body. And some developed into sores.
While in the hospital for gallbladder surgery, Vanessa underwent a skin biopsy and other tests. Doctors diagnosed her with psoriasis and started treatment with skin ointments. Her skin plaques peeled off in large sheets.
“I was embarrassed. I cried. I was depressed,” Vanessa says.
She started taking the biologic medication Humira, as well as Methotrexate. The combination “saved my skin,” she says.
In 2013, Vanessa’s hands started cramping and she began having joint pain. She saw a rheumatologist, who diagnosed her with psoriatic arthritis.
As she learned to manage the joint inflammation, Vanessa’s psoriasis went into “slumber mode.” But, in 2015, her body stopped responding to Humira, and a new dermatologist changed her treatment.
In May 2015, Vanessa became sick with a high fever. She spent a week in the hospital with sepsis. Doctors stopped biologic treatments and instead used strong antibiotics and steroids to beat the infection and heal Vanessa’s skin.
“It scared me, but my doctor said different treatments cool off psoriasis for different people,” she says.
Vanessa switched to a new dermatologist, whom she sees today. They’ve developed a strong relationship. They avoided biologics and successfully treated her psoriasis with ointments and topical Enstilar foam for two years.
A bad flare hit in 2017
“Nearly 100% of my body was covered in plaques,” Vanessa says. “My head, my face, my eyelids, my lips, and my ears. I had no hair.”
In 2017, plaques spread inside her mouth and ears, affecting her hearing. They covered her armpits, the palms of her hands, and the soles of her feet, damaging sweat glands. She was in pain and shed lots of skin.
Vanessa’s dermatologist wanted to start her on a new medication. Tests showed Vanessa’s kidney and liver function were normal, so her dermatologist prescribed Skyrizi, a biologic treatment. Skyrizi stopped Vanessa’s itching in 2 weeks, and her plaques began to heal. After 6 weeks, her skin looked and felt better. After 6 months, her hair grew back. Her skin was clear, Vanessa says.
“I changed my diet, too. No acidic drinks or foods. I learned my triggers,” Vanessa says.
Battling depression
Finding the right care was just one obstacle Vanessa faced. Her appearance impacted her job. Healthcare costs mounted. She became depressed.
Extended family and some friends shunned her, and she was embarrassed by her skin. “Kids and old people were brutally honest,” she says.
Now, to fight depression, Vanessa:
Starts each day with deep breathing, stretching, and giving thanks
Focuses on the positives
Talks often to others living with psoriasis and depression
“I encourage people to keep their mental health strong,” Vanessa says. But she knows it isn’t always easy.
Her mental health “completely broke down” in 2019. Her husband had a brain tumor. She got an upper respiratory infection and had to stop taking her psoriasis medications. When her plaques returned, people started staring. So she stayed in her bedroom.
“I let this disease take control. I lost faith in myself,” Vanessa says. “I was at a point where I couldn’t be me.”
She needed support.
She found MyHealthTeams online and joined MyPsoriasisTeam. It “saved me in so many ways,” Vanessa says.
As she talked with others on the site, she felt better. She met people living with all types of psoriasis situations. Her team checked on her often, bringing “pure positivity” into her life.
“My emotions got better. My stress got better. The flare-up got better,” Vanessa says. “I found people who went from being team members to friends to actual loved ones.”
Financial survival mode
Before they retired, Vanessa’s husband, Terrell, was a truck driver and she worked at a funeral home. But, after she started having symptoms of psoriasis, she stayed out of sight to avoid upsetting clients when her plaques were visible.
“When I looked like a blistered lizard, it affected my money, my relationships, my emotions, and my finances,” Vanessa says.
The search for the right care was expensive. The Scotts paid out-of-pocket for treatments. Some ointments cost $200 for a travel-sized tube.
And they lost income when Vanessa couldn’t work.
“We went into survival mode,” Vanessa says, explaining how they managed the financial strain. “We used savings cards, anything to knock the cost down.” Vanessa found discounts through GoodRx and with store coupons.
Avoiding gatherings, stigma
Psoriasis kept Vanessa from what she loves. She’s the youngest of 17 children, and big family gatherings at home in Pine Mountain are a staple. She skipped barbecues, bonfires, weekend movies at the drive-in, and fish fries.
“I love the clean air, good living, and good food,” Vanessa says. “But, back then, I turned down invitations.”
Her immediate family didn’t care how she looked. But Vanessa says she felt shunned by some extended family, friends, and strangers.
She remembers one encounter, in particular. She was wearing a wig to hide a large plaque on her face. When the wind blew her hair, the scales were visible.
“A woman moved away from me and started whispering,” Vanessa says.
Vanessa met the woman again. This time, her skin was clear but the woman had psoriasis plaques. They talked, and Vanessa shared her dermatologist’s number.
“I believe just because you ‘get ugly,’ doesn’t mean you give it back,” Vanessa says.
In 2020, Vanessa and her family members with autoimmune and skin conditions — eczema, lupus, psoriasis, and burns — invited people to an educational cookout.
“We decided it was time to tell what we go through,” Vanessa says. They shared slides and explained their conditions, including the causes and their strategies for health.
Vanessa says people apologized for their ignorance: “Now they have an awareness and understanding.”
The educational cookouts are ongoing. They talk about the research that’s being done on the genetic and environmental risks for autoimmune and skin conditions. They also focus on other family health concerns, like heart health.
Love the skin you’re in
When Vanessa feels bad, she indulges in comfort: cozy house shoes, a warm robe, homemade goat milk, and honey soap. “Don’t miss out on living,” she says.
Vanessa shares these tips for people living with psoriasis:
Ask lots of questions; don’t be embarrassed.
Avoid home remedies.
Avoid using heavy makeup.
Be proactive about your skin, check moles, and watch for other changes.
Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Listen to your body.
Listen to your doctor.
Moisturize generously; try Eucerin, Nivea, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil.
Try natural ingredients like aloe vera.
Use different moisturizers: light lotions in summer, and oils and gels in winter.
Use sunscreen, even if your skin is dark.
When you’re outside, wear a hat and loose sleeves if the sun irritates your psoriasis.
She also has tips specifically for bathing:
Use warm, not hot water.
Use soothing oatmeal bath soaks.
When you’re finished, pat your skin dry and moisturize immediately.
Prioritize self-care, Vanessa says. That includes searching for the right treatment. Living with psoriasis means keeping it under control.
“I’m not ashamed anymore,” Vanessa says. “I don’t care about the stigma. I found treatments that work for me.”
—
Vanessa told her story as part of a partnership between GoodRx Health and MyHealthTeams, which creates social networks for people living with chronic conditions. MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Members share their firsthand experiences, practical tips, and emotional support in a secure online community. Medical experts and specialists share trusted information via articles, videos, and virtual events. MyPsoriasisTeam is free to join and available via mobile app and the web.
Why trust our experts?
