Express yourself

Here are some ways to explain psoriasis:

• When you have psoriasis, it means that your skin is producing skin cells faster than normal.
  
  
• Scientists haven’t totally figured out what causes psoriasis, but it isn’t because of bad food, bad hygiene, or personality. You did not bring psoriasis on yourself.
  
  
• It is not a contagious disease. People can't "catch" psoriasis from you.
  
  
• Psoriasis is something you were born with, just like your eye color or hair color.
  
  
• Psoriasis is a chronic disease, which means that it is ongoing. Sometimes it seems better, sometimes it may get worse.
  
  
• Researchers don’t know why some people get the disease and some people don’t, but they are trying to figure out why.
  

Psoriasis is a part of you, but it is not all of who you are!

Here's how other kids explain their psoriasis:

• It's not contagious. It's autoimmune. And it's called psoriasis.
  Nicholas, 11
  
  
• I have a skin condition that makes my skin grow faster than normal.
  Nevin, 9
  
  
• The red dots are psoriasis and I don't like it and I have had it for a while.
  Preston, 7
  
  
• It is a disease that is not contagious so it won't spread on your skin.
  Samantha, 10
  
  
• It is a disease called psoriasis. It's not contagious and I was born with it but it didn't show up until I was 6.
  Jacob, 11
  
  
• It is a skin disease that's not contagious. I have it. Please don't make fun of me.
  Emily, 8
  
  
• It's not poison ivy or a rash, it's psoriasis. It's not contagious.
  Christopher, 5