"Psoriasis is just a skin disease," says Dr. Marc Perrussel, a dermatologist attached to the Saint-Louis hospital in Paris, speaking primarily on the skin, in the form of thick red patches covered in 80% of cases because of a too rapid renewal of the epidermis, but it is also often accompanied by an attack of the nails and / or the scalp and in 35% of patients, it ends by also touching the joints by generating psoriatic arthritis ".

Inflammation is more common in the spine of men and joints of the legs, arms or hands in women.

Stop the preconceived ideas

"So many scales sometimes fall off my scalp that my sweater is dotted with dead skin, although I dust it, there are always", says Alexandra, 31 years old.

They look at me like I'm dirty.

"My psoriasis itches so hard that I can not help but scratch myself," says Bruno, 46. "In the office, my colleagues are moving away from me." Although I told them it was not contagious, they are suspicious, as if I had scabies ".

These testimonies of distraught patients are legion. Psoriasis, which results from immune dysfunction, has nothing to do with a hygiene problem and is not linked to a microbe that is likely to spread. But the prejudices are so strong that the patients end up isolating themselves.

The pso, embarrassment to shame

Seven people with psoriasis out of ten are totally discouraged, according to an Ipsos survey conducted for the France Psoriasis association, which regularly launches information campaigns to better live with this disease. 76% of patients are embarrassed and a third of them even feel shame!

26% are so depressed that they want to totally disappear.

Their professional life suffers inevitably: 23% believe that posting this disease is a real obstacle in their career. Alexandra, who works in a banking network, has experienced it several times: "as my files are always treated, I was several times called to the HRD for a promotion, but as soon as they see me with my ugly plates on my arms, my file is flawed, I am the only one of my service to never evolve professionally ".

Tensions even with loved ones

Even though the patients' entourage is aware of the suffering caused by psoriasis, it underestimates the difficulties encountered.

For 31% of relatives, living with a person with psoriasis on a daily basis is difficult, according to France Psoriasis. 49% of patients consider that their illness is a source of tension or arguments in the couple.

Although aware that the suffering of the patient is real (95%), the spouse sometimes doubts his fighting spirit: 43% think he could do more to heal himself and 41% that he lets himself go a little .

An additional source of stress that may intensify psoriasis outbreaks. "It's not a psychosomatic illness, says Dr. Marc Perrussel, but stress is a factor."

It is therefore high time to definitely change your outlook on psoriasis!

* according to the Objectif Peau survey carried out by the French Society of Dermatology.