"My Worst Fear At Any Job Was...": What It's Like Working With Psoriasis

“My Worst Fear At Any Job Was…”: What It’s Like Working With Psoriasis

I am a 58-year-old woman who has been living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis since the age of five. I got my first job at age 14, and have been going strong ever since.

When I started my very first summer job working at a school for kids with disabilities, I knew my psoriasis was going to be a problem. Indeed, people were staring and pointing within a matter of minutes. I had psoriasis on my face and arms that was visible for all to see. As a child I was used to kids pointing and making fun of me, but I thought the adult working world would be totally different. Boy, was I wrong!!

When I first started working, I didn’t know how to cover up or hide my condition for a job. As the years went by, I would learn how to take extra care of what clothing I wore or how I wore my hair so people wouldn’t focus on my psoriasis. This wasn’t easy.

I found out quickly that choosing the right clothing and styles when you have psoriasis and flare ups can be a challenge for work or any time. I had to wear loose clothing that didn’t rub against my skin and cause pain and irritation. Fabrics made of cotton were more comfortable than synthetics.