Chuck’s World

Psoriasis and now Psoriatic Arthritis is something I have dealt with for quite awhile now. I would say it has affected many areas of my life and the life of my family. It is definitely an illness you truly can’t understand, unless you have experienced it first hand. I hope that all of you reading this never do.

I stumbled upon this campaign recently and have decided to join. It has made me realize I need to reevaluate my lifestyle, my medication and my health care provider, even if that means radical changes, going out of state and not accepting the status quot. I have already begun a lot of things, but I need to do more.

If you or anyone you know has been dealing with Psoriasis, then I suggest you take a look at this campaign and see if it might be something for you. Here is their link: Stop Hiding. Start Living.

If you are struggling with this disease, then you have my empathy and my prayers. Don’t give up though, like I almost did. Fight back and do all you can to bring this monster to its knees.

In His grip,

Chuck

P.S. I have decided to create a new category for Psoriasis and will be posting more information as I find things. So, if you are interested, please check back.

Diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 2, I have struggled with this disease my whole life. Growing up with psoriasis was anything but easy. At one point, about 80% of my body was covered with psoriasis patches. I had to be taken out of school to endure long and difficult treatments, and I dealt with embarrassing reactions from my peers, who thought I was contagious. It was so stressful, I used to get panic attacks over it.

Being a performer with psoriasis has been very difficult. The pressure and stresses that come along with a career as a performer can lead to bad flare-ups. Because of my embarrassment of having psoriasis, I have gone to great lengths to hide my skin during performances and would wear long dresses to every award show or jeans for my appearances, even in the dead heat of summer.

Thanks to a close partnership with my dermatologist and a dedication to a healthy lifestyle, I have learned how to manage my symptoms and to live a normal life with a successful career. I speak with my dermatologist about all of the ways that psoriasis affects me—physically, emotionally and socially. My dermatologist provides me with the information and support I need to take control of my disease.

I urge you to talk to your dermatologist and learn more about managing psoriasis. If you don’t have a dermatologist yet, it’s important that you add one to your health care team—especially one who specializes in psoriasis. Find a dermatologist near you.

And be sure to check out our special Q&A section, where the American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation answer questions on everything from diagnosing psoriasis to treatment options.