Psoriasis and dating
As a teenager, you are making a number of decisions that will affect the rest of your life. Dating is one activity that is important in discovering who you are and what you want in life. Though dating itself can be daunting—"Will she/he say yes to my invitation to go out? What will I say/do if she/he turns me down?"—psoriasis adds a whole other dimension.
Everyone wants to put their best foot forward, especially on a first date, but how do you weave psoriasis into the picture? Here are two approaches you can use:
- There may be no point in letting a date know about your psoriasis until you know whether you're really interested in developing an ongoing relationship with that person. When you tell someone you like about your disease, you present him or her with a test to show you whether he or she is worthy of your attention. Not everyone can understand that psoriasis does not affect one's ability to participate in a relationship.
- You can tell the person on your first date by sliding into the topic. You can talk about liking the beach or swimming and that the sun is very good for your psoriasis. You might mention a psoriasis—related appointment or event you attended recently, etc.
Whichever approach you choose, remember that everyone has something that isn't "right"—psoriasis just happens to be a problem that shows. Anybody who is worth dating is also going to see your personality—your humor, your intelligence and your love for certain hobbies—and will see beyond what is on your skin.
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