hello everybody

[Kat]

Welcome Alan!

Psoriasis can certainly be hard on self esteem, but don't let it define you.  It is nice to be around people who understand the struggles of psoriasis and I'm glad you found your way here.  We're a friendly, supportive group and people here are always willing to try to help if they can on answering questions. 

Kat

its a bit late now re the defining  Kat,  ive had 40 odd years of lurking in the shadows.
but as im nearing my twilight years nothing really matters anymore and things dont bother me like they used to.

Oh it's never too late!  I was a bit of a shy person so lurked in the shadows well before I was diagnosed with psoriasis.  And I'm a bit older than you and I agree things don't bother me as much as they used to as my priorities are definitely different now but I don't think I could ever say nothing really matters.  I matter.  You matter.  We all matter. 

In your introduction you say you "have finally got used to the shame of looking diseased and ugly."  I have and still do struggle with how I look with and without psoriasis so I do understand how hard it can be.  But we are all more than just people with psoriasis, there is so very much more to each of us here and that includes you.  This is a great support group and people here understand.  But I don't like them because they have psoriasis and can relate.... maybe it started that way.  Now I like them for the kind, caring, understanding people that I have learned them to be. 

So I stick by saying it's never too late.    Even this old dame here keeps learning new things about myself and I even like a few of them. But I'll be a work in progress the rest of my days. 

I don't think I could ever say I think psoriasis is beautiful.... but I will say the people who have it still are.