A woman with psoriasis has shared images that show what it really feels like to struggle with the condition.
Ciera Rae Nelson, an aspiring actress and artist who refers to herself as a 'psoriasis warrior', posted a photograph to her Instagram account explaining, '#psoriasis What it looks like on the left after I've covered it up with make up VS. what it feels like on the right'.
She went on to detail how she's edited the picture, changing the saturation and structure to highlight the symptoms that people often miss when she's covered them with make-up.
'Most people looked at the left in person and didn't notice much but dry spots here and there, not noticing what was really underneath,' she wrote.
'#psoriaticarthritis is an #invisibleillness and sometimes so is psoriasis (chronic itchiness and chronic fatigue). Not everything is as bad as it looks and sometimes things are actually much worse.'
Ciera wants people to understand the severity of the symptoms even if they're not as visible as people expect
Ciera often informs her followers of her skin condition, showing them how the dry patches can come and go. While she's had mostly clear skin lately, as evidenced in the image below:
Ciera has also had bouts of severe illness due to her psoriasis. Two months ago, she shared this picture of herself after being admitted to hospital with dehydration and a fever.
'Skin conditions are not cosmetic issues,' she wrote alongside. 'They cause physical pain and suffering and oftentimes a feeling of being trapped in your own body, on top of the social anxiety many people face because of them. I personally struggle with sleep deprivation due to constant, widespread itchiness that feels more like I'm being stung or bitten then I am "itchy."
'Sometimes it's completely unbearable and I have to go to a calm place in my mind to meditate and breathe until it lessens, but it never fully goes away.'
Offering advice to those experiencing the same symptoms, she added, 'Hydrate. Get enough sleep. Eat healthy foods. Nourish your biggest organ, and all of the rest while you're at it.'
What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a skin condition which causes red, itchy, flaky skin and scaly patches, caused by an increased production of skin cells. It affects around 2% of the population in the UK, although the severity can vary greatly from sufferer to sufferer. Symptoms often get worse when the body is already under strain, for instance, in times of stress, but there are a range of treatments to help make the condition more manageable. If you think you may have psoriasis, you should consult with your GP to find the best option for you.
Are you or is anyone you know affected by psoriasis? Leave us a comment below, we'd love to hear your story
