I was 15 when a red patch first appeared on my back. It was about two months after my beloved grandmother, who had been my sole caregiver since little, passed away. I believe that the devastation and stress following her death triggered my psoriasis.
After her death, I began to question a lot of things in life and nearly lost my spirit. My psoriasis also got quite bad, and the patch on my back started to grow, but I was not in the mindset that I needed to get treated, so I was not bothered by it. I just used to peel off the excess skin. However, that made the patch grow and appeared on my neck. It started to become visible to people and made me insecure.
I could not even go out in the sun for long because my skin would get red and itchy. I could not play sports, and I started to skip school. I think I skipped school for a month after my PT3 exams. I did not leave the house and spent most of my time playing video games.
At the time of my diagnosis, my psoriasis had spread throughout my entire upper back, so I visited my dermatologist, who diagnosed me. He explained that psoriasis, while not harmful or life-threatening, there was no cure. He also informed me that there were treatment options to manage it and stop it from progressing especially if the right treatment is given early. At first, I could not accept the fact that I would have to live with it my entire life. I was devastated. I remember crying after my dermatologist visit. The doctor then prescribed some medications which had proven to help manage my condition.
As stress is one of my biggest triggers, I practice yoga to keep my stress levels down. In order to keep the itchiness at bay, I moisturise my skin with sweet almond oil every day.
I am doing much better now, and I will be one of two Malaysian students in the class of 2025 at Harvard. However, I am slightly worried about being there and how the stress of studying might affect my skin. Nevertheless, I will continue to be positive and hope to find a way to help other people who are in my position. If something unusual starts to develop on your skin, do not think twice to go and meet a dermatologist. I realized that identifying your symptoms and managing the conditions early will help you build a positive mindset and a support system.
Hamdi
By True Complexion
Approval Code: MY2210276271
