My story: abby's experience with psoriasis

Abby, wife and mother, developed psoriasis shortly after her son was born. She admits, it affected her physically and mentally, but with the right treatments, she has been able to enjoy life and spend time with her family again. Here's her story.

Transcript

00:00

My name is Abby Shashoua. I am a 39-year-old mother of one. My psoriasis started soon after I had my son.

00:06

I was 38. It started around my face, spread throughout my scalp and arms and legs as time went by and more stress

00:13

came into my life. As a new mom, you don't feel that great physically to begin with. And it really impacted my self-esteem.

00:20

I really didn't want to go out much. It kept me inside, from doing things with my son that I wanted to do. Having our pictures taken, just by family--

00:27

I didn't want to be in the picture very often. I was trying to look as good as possible as a new mom, but on top of that a new mom who was developing a skin

00:35

condition. It became not just an outside thing-- the way I looked. It really became affecting my health physically.

00:43

I think as my son got older and I was able to finally get more sleep, that seemed to have helped the psoriasis flare-up,

00:49

as well as the medications that I was using. I was lucky enough that I was able to get away with just mild treatments.

00:55

I would say that my flare-up has been gone for a good six months at this point. I have a husband of almost 10 years

01:02

and my three-year-old son. And they were incredible. My husband was extremely caring, from helping me put medicine

01:09

on my back where I couldn't reach it to telling me I looked lovely no matter what. I've learned the tools of how to deal with it in case

01:15

I do have another flare-up. And then now I can just relax and enjoy things, enjoy my family.