What is your strongest memory of living with psoriasis?
I can remember one particular occasion that has stayed with me. It was when I lived in London. My skin was bad enough that it could split open. I was on a busy bus and, as there were no free seats, I had to hold onto a support strap. The pressure of holding on caused the skin on my knuckles to split open and start to bleed. People stared at me as if I was an alien. It was horrible.

How did psoriasis impact your life?
My psoriasis is very visible on my hands, my feet and the back of my legs. Its impact on my life has been quite profound, and it has affected the way I dress and the way I spend my spare time. I wouldn’t, for example, do many physical activities at all. I would never go swimming or sunbathe, anywhere where I had to be uncovered. It makes me feel extremely self-conscious. It has really knocked my confidence.

But you could say that having psoriasis has motivated me to do something positive as well. I make my own skin care products, purely because I wanted to stop using so many chemicals on my skin. I started by going to college evening classes, learning how to make the creams as well as doing my own research. As well as helping my skin the whole process has helped rebuild my self-confidence.

Why have you decided to get involved in the UK Naked Truth Campaign?
I wanted to take part in the UK Naked Truth Campaign to raise awareness about psoriasis. A lot of people tend to be quite shocked when they see somebody with severe psoriasis and their reactions can make you very self-conscious. I also wanted to get across that psoriasis affects people psychologically as much as physically. It impacts partners and family and can put a strain on relationships. 

Being part of the UK Naked Truth Campaign is a real personal achievement as showing any part of my skin other than my hands and my feet has always been very difficult for me.  It was hard at the beginning but I’m glad I’ve done it.

What is the message that you would like to convey to others?
Psoriasis can affect all aspects of a person’s life and is a lot more than just a skin condition. For a person with psoriasis being understood and accepted by other people means they can cope better with its impact and not lose their self-confidence.