Tips for opening up about psoriasis

You're not alone!

Approximately 7.5 million Americans have some form of psoriasis. It is the most common autoimmune disease in the U.S. Chances are good that you know several people with the condition whether you are aware of it or not.

What you need to know about psoriasis >>

Educate yourself & get support

Talk to your doctor about your psoriasis. Ask lots of questions and get the answers. They are probably the same questions people will ask you as you start to open up about your condition. Having the answers will make you more comfortable having those conversations. The National Psoriasis Foundation is a great resource. You can't change the fact that you have psoriasis. But you can empower yourself with information, support and advice to help you live well with your disease.

Share what you learn with your partner so that they can participate in your treatment.

You can connect with others with psoriasis in the Psoriasis Foundation's message boards and through One to One. Don't make yourself a victim. You are more than your disease. Make a point of remembering that!   Be grateful for the support you receive. Don't assume you know what others think about your condition. Ask!

In the spotlight

You may want to hide on the days when you're having a particularly bad outbreak on visible parts of your body. Well, imagine dealing with psoriasis when you're a celebrity who is constantly in the public eye, being photographed and dissected in the media! Country singer LeAnn Rimes has had psoriasis since the age of 2. Stacey London, host of What Not to Wear and celebrity stylist has suffered from psoriasis most of her life. Both Stacey and LeAnn work with the Nation Psoriasis Foundation to bring attention to the disease and its effects. Recently Kim Kardashian shared her diagnosis on her reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. While you may feel all eyes are on you when you're dealing with a flare-up, it's nothing like the level of scrutiny these ladies face on a daily basis. Use them as role models and don't hide from your public! Get out there and be seen. Do the things that make you happy. If you're busy enjoying yourself you won't be so focused on how others are viewing you.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian diagnosed with psoriasis >>

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Photo credit: E! Online