Alisha volunteers with theNational Psoriasis Foundation, where she speaks openly about her own experience with psoriasis at conferences.
The first time I realized people viewed me differently was in middle school.
I remember beauty becoming important to my peers around age 10.
Photo courtesy of Alisha Bridges / Designed by Julie Bang / Verywell
I started to notice the stares and whispers.
At that time, my skin was about 90% covered with flares from plaque andguttate psoriasis.
As a child, it was hard to embrace something that made me different from my classmates.
I didnt understand what it meant to have a chronic illness.
All I knew was that I had dry skin that was itchyand unattractive, and I hated it.
Alisha Bridges
I didnt understand what it meant to have a chronic illness.
All I knew was that I had dry skin that was itchy and unattractive, and I hated it.
I grew up in the 1990s, during a time when people didnt know much about psoriasis.
I remember the awkward moments when my classmates asked what was on my skin.
These outfits required shorts and tank tops.
High school is when my psoriasis started impacting my self-esteem the most.
During my freshman year, I was cast in the school play,Pinocchio.
During our very first dress rehearsal, our drama teacher brought makeup for the cast to use.
I dont know whats going on with your skin.
I was hurt and embarrassed, and I felt powerless.
However, there was a silver lining.
There was an assistant teacher by the name of Ms. Dee, who I told what happened.
Eventually, I found an online support group for people living with psoriasis.
During this time I felt extremely frustrated with my skin.
I decided to share my frustrations on the support group with a blog entitled, My Suicide Letter.
So far, I have used five different types of injections.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all.
What may work for one person may not have any effect on the next.
Each biologic is constructed to target different parts of the immune system.
Unfortunately, there is no test that indicates what part of your immune system is causing psoriasis.
The process is simply trial and error and seeing what works.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all.
What may work for one person may not have any effect on the next.
Humira and Enbrel dont work for me.
So its trial and error.
My medicine costs $16,000 for two injections every three months.
Biologics are expensive, but there are patient programs available that can help you pay for your treatment.
Side effects are typically a top concern for patients and can vary from person to person.
A common side effect of biologics is upper respiratory conditions like the common cold.
All of these can make getting help more difficult.
For example, I havescalp psoriasis.
I wash my hair maybe once a week.
I was given a treatment that requires you to wash your hair three to four times a week.
But all that water is damaging for my hair.
That treatment is constructed for someone who I cant relate to, but Im required to use it.
It wasnt women like me in those clinical trials, but Im using the medicine.
I recommend finding a healthcare provider who has worked with Black skin and someone who is involved in research.
All of these can make getting help more difficult.
Thats why its important to find other women who you could relate to in online support groups.
I also recommend getting involved with the National Psoriasis Foundation, no matter what your ethnicity is.
I still have bad days.
I still hate the fact that I have psoriasis.
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