Whilst I have been utterly rubbish at keeping this blog up to date, I have been busy with all things Psoriasis in the background!
Since I last blogged I've spent a lot of time on Twitter, set up an Instagram channel, took part in a number of patient advocate events, popped over to Amsterdam for the weekend to film a video in preparation for Psoriasis Awareness Week 2016, worked with the Daily Mail and The Sun on two fantastically positive awareness pieces and was featured alongside Kim Kardashian in a separate piece following her blog post to explain that she had come to terms with the condition.
Filming in Amsterdam for Psoriasis Awareness Week 2016 with #Getyourskinout and @Bryneenee
Whilst I'm still on the roller-coaster of good and bad skin days, I'm having a lot of fun meeting some fantastically inspirational people and building my psoriasis community. You can read more about this and the importance of building psoriasis communities in my latest blog featured on HelloSkin, here.
When I
was 13 I took my little sister swimming at the local pool. After about ten
minutes of splashing around in the shallow water I was asked to come out of the
pool to have a chat with the lifeguard, where I was asked to leave the poolside
immediately as there had been complaints from other swimmers that I was
contagious. I stood at the side of the pool, as a self-conscious teenager angry
and upset trying to explain that it was only psoriasis, it wasn't contagious
and that I wasn't causing any harm to anybody. The lifeguard (who in hindsight
was very poorly trained to deal with this situation) failed to listen and put
the concerns of others over mine, insisting that I must leave straightaway and
take this up with the manager once I was dressed and away from the concerned onlookers.
This
wasn't the first time that somebody had asked if I was contagious, but it was
one of my earliest memories of somebody showing zero understanding of the
condition or compassion towards the sufferer, stood in front of them crying
with frustration and embarrassment.
It was
because of this early memory and my internal fury when asked if I am contagious
that when contacted by @PhilipsBlueLED and Schuco, I jumped at
the opportunity to get involved with a video that aimed to raise the awareness
of psoriasis and dispel the contagious myth for UK Psoriasis Awareness Week
2015 (1-8 Nov).
I have to
confess that I am not the biggest fan of being filmed, so I was a little
nervous with the idea of having to tell my story and show my psoriasis in front
of the camera. However, after arriving at the venue and meeting Bryony and Lee
(fellow psoriasis sufferers) I felt so inspired by their bravery and enthusiasm
to also help raise awareness that all nerves were turned to excitement and we
had so much fun!
If you
are affected by psoriasis, we'd love to hear from you! Get involved with UK
Psoriasis Awareness Week 2015 by sharing your experience, help to spread our message
on social media using #psoriasisawarenessweek and talk about it with friends
and family.
If you
have any questions for me, I can be reached on liannespsoriasis@gmail.com or on
twitter @fixmypsoriasis
