The website will help them to deal with their condition
The Psoriasis Association have launched a new resource designed to offer emotional and psychological support to teenagers and young people living with psoriasis.
The new website provides simple day-to-day tips for young people on how to best manage their condition, and deal with the often negative criticisms they may face at school and university, as well as give access to a network which will allow them to share stories and messages with one another.
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting approximately 2-3 per cent of the population in the UK and Ireland. Over a third of sufferers develop the condition before the age of 16 and as well as the physical symptoms, it can also have a significant psychological and emotional impact; causing feelings of low self-esteem and depression.
Helen McAteer, Chief Executive, The Psoriasis Association, says: “With 1.4 per cent of the under 19 population of the UK having psoriasis, we felt it important to provide information on psoriasis that is relevant to young people. The site is aimed at those who have recently been diagnosed with psoriasis, or teenagers and young people who may have been living with it for a while, as well as their friends and family who want to find out a bit more about the condition.
“The site aims to reliably inform visitors about the condition, available treatments and, perhaps, more importantly allow them to talk and share experiences, which we hope will lead them to finding successful treatment and help them to cope better with the condition from an early age.”
Steff Day, 16 yrs from Burnley in Lancashire has lived with psoriasis since she was 11 yrs old. Steff explains: “I have psoriasis all over my body and got called names and bullied so much at school that I would often break down crying. There were times when I just didn’t want to live any more, but with help from my family and friends I got through it. Having a website for young people with psoriasis is a great idea and will meet a great need. It will allow teenage sufferers to share the issues that arise from living with psoriasis. It will help those living with psoriasis to feel more positive about the condition and ensure that they don’t suffer in silence.”
For those living with psoriasis, it is recommended to return to the doctor to talk about the impact that the condition is having both physically and emotionally, and to discuss if there may be a new treatment choice that could work for them.
To mark Psoriasis Awareness Week (1st-8th November 2011), The Psoriasis Association is launching www.psoteen.org.uk.
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