Ellie M's Story

Ellie shares her psoriasis journey and talks about how she found strength and positivity from reading other people's stories, inspiring her to do the same.

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Hey guys 🙋🏼‍♀️ my name is Ellie, I’m 24 years old and this is my psoriasis story.

So I was 15, and I remember it so well, walking to school when I felt an itching sensation coming from my stomach. Me and a friend took a look at it and, as we had no idea what it was, we put it down to the fact my mum may have changed the wash powder. Forgotten about, a year passed and I began noticing the itch coming back but this time, along with small dry circles all over my stomach which was obviously quite concerning. After numerous trips back and forth to the doctors, I was eventually told it was psoriasis - what the hell is psoriasis? I had never heard of this condition before so I had absolutely no idea what it entailed. I began using steroid cream which, for four years, seemingly kept the rash and itching under control. It became a natural part of my daily routine and I was worry free.

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Then... I turned 23. Talk about returning with a bang! That year was one of the most difficult years of my life. I went through a lot personally and endured some intensely stressful times which resulted in my psoriasis coming back and engulfing my entire scalp. I cried myself to sleep nights on end, trying to lay on my pillow whilst my scalp felt like it was on fire. In desperation I tried every single option offered to me; creams, butters, shampoos, oils, you name it. Although this made me extremely self-conscious, I wanted to try and find a solution that was chemical free. No doctors’ visits, no steroid creams... Just a hunt to find something that worked for me.

Fast forward 7 months and I’m feeling absolutely fabulous about my psoriasis. Some days are better than others, but learning how to accept your condition is a part of the journey. By following pages like this, I’ve found positivity and strength through everybody else’s stories and tips - it’s really helped me & I hope mine helps you. 💜

Read more real-life stories from young people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.