Having a skin disorder can make anyone feel self-conscious. Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from some form of a skin condition, including psoriasis. The skin disorder, which causes itchy, scaly patches to appear over the knees, torso and elbows, can be a real burden for some people. Unfortunately, the National Psoriasis Foundation reports that Black patients with psoriasis are often misdiagnosed because doctors are unfamiliar with how to treat the disease on darker skin. Instead of appearing as red patches, they’ll have violet to grayscale coloring.
Mother and wife, Debra Kent experienced several hardships with her psoriasis diagnosis, including doctors not being familiar with skin conditions present in Black skin. She went through a slew of doctors and medications to help manage her condition.
However, Kent’s situation only got worse after she experienced humiliation and embarrassment from onlookers and doctors alike. Her skin condition made her self-conscious. At one point, she even contemplated suicide.
Luckily, Kent’s family helped her out of the depression. She even found a medical physician who was sympathetic to her situation. Now Kent maintains a positive mindset to help her through the dark times. She’s even encouraged others to do the same.
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Her Skin Disorder Made Her Self-Conscious
In her early thirties, Debra Kent was diagnosed with psoriasis. She started experiencing a whole horde of skin issues, including a flaky scalp. The added stress from her husband’s health issues and their living situation only worsened her psoriasis.
Kent started noticing flaky and purple lesions forming around her elbow and knee joints. She even experienced pain in her joints, which she later discovered was a symptom of psoriatic arthritis.
Kent decided to finally visit a dermatologist. During the appointment, she left her hair in a natural, afro style to make it easier for the doctor to examine her flaky scalp.
However, the physician was too fixated on her “unruly” hair to offer any real treatment options. The dermatologist acted as though she were “diseased.” Unfortunately, the mother and wife experienced the same mistreatment from several other doctors.
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When her psoriasis started appearing on visible areas of her body, she often received stares from doctors. Even after her psoriasis cleared and left behind some discoloration, Kent shared that people still stared on. During an interview with SELF last year, she said, “I felt like I was being judged for a condition I have no control over.”
Making matters worse, she went through several medications before finding any type of relief. Throughout that time, she experienced side effects that either worsened her psoriasis or led her to develop other issues, such as bell’s palsy. Kent’s health condition was indeed making life difficult for her.
Her Skin Condition Affected Her Mentally
Unfortunately, psoriasis also negatively impacted her mental health. When the disease was at its worst, the 51-year-old experienced long periods of depression. She recalled thinking, “I don’t want to live like this.”
Making matters worse, Kent shared that her daughter developed psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as well. Guilt and shame consumed Kent, as she often blamed herself for “giving” her daughter the skin condition. To say that the mother and wife went through a difficult time is an understatement.
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Debra Kent Encourages Others To Have A Positive Mindset
Kent was eventually able to bounce back and regain control over her life again. The support from her husband and daughter reminded her that she had something to live for. Even better, she eventually found the right physician and medication to help manage her condition.
Of course, living with skin issues has been no walk in the park. The 51-year-old admitted that living with psoriasis has been challenging, but she’s learning to accept her condition one day at a time. When she was first diagnosed, she felt alone in her struggles. Fortunately, Kent developed a way to overcome her dark moods and periods of depression. Because she is a spiritual person, she started praying and writing positive affirmations.
The best advice Debra Kent wants to give to people living with psoriasis is to keep a positive mindset. Stress can cause flare-ups and even worsen the condition in some people. In addition, Kent tells others to keep hope alive and know that things will get better. She managed to find a good healthcare provider and the right medication to treat her psoriasis. She believes the same can be done for others.
