Pam's Journey with Psoriasis | QV Skin Stories

Pam's Journey with Psoriasis

Written by QV Community

Pam always looked forward to her gardening sessions. But as her psoriasis flared up, the biggest challenge was her itchy dry skin, which “spoilt the sunshine". When Pam developed sensitive skin a decade ago, she was overcome with itchiness on her arms, legs and scalp, particularly when she was enjoying the outdoors due to some medication she was on. Skin issues happened to run in the family, so Pam suspected it might be psoriasis, which her late mother suffered from. 

                    "My mum had psoriasis years ago... and I don't think she ever got any good treatment. I may have inherited it."

For Pam, who relished an active lifestyle, her favourite outdoor activities became unbearable. “I used to play garden, but I found that when I went out to play, the sun was too much. Psoriasis spoiled the sunshine for me!” When Pam was outdoors in the daylight, she was overcome with itchy, dry skin. “My hair was just racing with itch and burning, and my body too.”

After visiting her doctor, she tried many traditional medications and lotions, but says the itching was still intolerable. For a few years Pam avoided going outside at all if she could. Through this difficult time, Pam says her husband was a wonderful support. “He protected me in the years when the itching was bad.”

One day, Pam was outside watching her grandson compete in a running race. She recalls this as one of the most challenging moments she faced with her psoriasis. “I was so itchy standing outside, I had to go to my car. I missed him coming in on the race... I cried my eyes out,” she says. This was a turning point for Pam, who’d had enough of itchy dry skin affecting her lifestyle.

"I was so itchy standing outside, I had to go to my car. I missed him coming in on the race... I cried my eyes out."

Pam began experimenting with new ways to be kinder to her skin, such as soap-free alternatives to gently cleanse her dry skin and fragrance-free lotions to nourish it. When one of Pam’s friends suggested QV Skincare, she decided to give it a go. Now Pam regularly uses the QV Skin Lotion and the QV Gentle Wash. Pam also enjoys a bath with the QV Bath Oil.

These days, Pam tries to use only gentle, well formulated products on her sensitive skin that are fragrance- and soap-free. Her skin is much more comfortable — she’s only got one tiny itchy spot on her ankle — and Pam says she’s been blessed! “I was hesitant for a few years to go outdoors. Now we love to go to the beach!”

SKINsights: What's the difference between Eczema and Psoriasis?

Eczema and psoriasis are both inflammatory skin conditions, but the primary difference lies in their causes. Eczema is often triggered by external factors like allergens or irritants, leaving it red, inflamed and itchy. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly speeds up skin cell production, leading to scaly and raised patches of skin. Both eczema and psoriasis are diseases that are diagnosed by a health care professional, and direction on treatment should be made in conjunction with a health care professional.

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