Getting back her confidence

Nancy B., Age 59
Living with psoriasis since 1971

For many years Nancy B. hid behind long-sleeved shirts and long pants and wouldn't dream of wearing black.

Nancy was initially diagnosed with psoriasis in the early 1970s. It began on her scalp, and within a year, the lesions had also appeared on her torso, arms, and legs. She found that her psoriasis made her self-conscious. "I lost confidence in who I was—and how I looked," she says. Nancy worked out at the gym, and even though she was toned and fit, she was careful not to show her legs. She also remembers the other members complaining when she used the whirlpool. Naturally, Nancy felt embarrassed by this, but the experience prompted her to be more open about her condition. "I decided to use people's discomfort and curiosity as an opportunity to educate and talk," she recalls. To Nancy's surprise, this encouraged many of them to talk about their own issues and vulnerabilities. "Not being afraid to talk about my condition really helped turn a negative experience into a positive one," she says.

Rather than feeling as though psoriasis was limiting her life, Nancy did everything she could to stay in charge. Today, she feels like she's found her confidence again. "I'm so appreciative and so much freer," she says. "I feel like I have so many more choices now."