Being a Black woman with psoriasis is tough, but it doesn’t define me

As challenging as this condition has been for me, it’s also been one of my biggest strengths. I started blogging about my psoriasis and was shocked to see how many other people are dealing with the same things. Several years ago, I decided that I was ready to let go of my shame and wrote a metaphorical “goodbye” letter, in which I committed to finally letting go of the part of me that was ashamed to live because of my psoriasis. The support I received from people after sharing my letter was overwhelming, and it inspired me to become a patient advocate.

Today, one of my goals as an advocate is to use my platform to help educate dermatologists, rheumatologists, and other healthcare providers about how psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis affect people of color differently. There are disparities in discoloration, or clinical presentation, and treatment nuances. Because there is limited understanding of how these types of psoriasis present on Black skin, delays in diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common.

There’s also limited access to diagnostic testing and treatment for people with darker skin. (If you’re unsure about your healthcare provider, seek out a board-certified dermatologist who’s Black (try blackdoctor.org) or who has psoriasis patients with a range of skin tones.) These inequities can have a real impact on both physical and mental health. Alarmingly, Black patients with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have reported a lower quality of life and greater psychological impact as a result of their psoriasis, compared with white people.

Even though I’ve overcome those feelings of shame and embarrassment that I used to struggle with, I definitely still have my days where I don’t feel like explaining my psoriasis to other people. And that’s OK, too—I don’t think that I have to be strong every day for everyone.

But if you have psoriasis, I want you to know that you’re not alone! Even though it might feel like it at first, there is a community of us out there who gets it. Connecting with others online, though support groups, and advocacy communities has really helped me cope and thrive.

Alisha Bridges is an activist, advocate, public speaker, and media consultant on a mission to help people of colour who are living with psoriatic disease. You can follow her on Instagram.

Visit the National Psoriasis Foundation at psoriasis.org for more information on treatment options and managing your psoriasis.

This story was originally published Glamour.com