Addressing Psoriasis™ Winners

Enjoying life 'here and now'
Laura Hurd
Age 29, Denver, Colo.

"It's somewhat of a damper on your social life to start a conversation with, 'No it's not contagious,'" observes Laura Hurd.

Laura's moderate to severe plaque psoriasis exploded during her college years, and she remembers that worrying about how she looked distracted her from doing her best at softball and tennis. And dating? "Don't even get me started!"

Laura remembers the exact moment she decided she'd had enough of wearing clothes that hid her skin. "I got this cute khaki skirt I had been looking for everywhere. And I wanted to wear it without pantyhose—just a skirt and shoes."

She put the skirt on. She took it off. A week later, the same thing. Finally, she told herself to go out in the skirt for just two hours. It was a big first step. "You do it a few times and it gets easier and easier. You stop thinking about it," she says. "I am thoroughly enjoying bikini season this year."

Laura hopes young women who develop psoriasis will communicate with others, and learn to enjoy life in the "here and now."

"If you look back in 50 years you aren't going to say, 'I wish I had covered up more.' You are going to say, 'I wish I had spent time with my friends and family, gone to the prom, experienced this or that.' Do what you want to do for yourself."