Child with psoriasis

If your child has psoriasis, there is a lot you can do to help him learn to manage the symptoms and prevent the skin condition from affecting his self-confidence. With the right approach, your support can show her how to live and thrive with the disease.

Help your child accept it

Even after being told what psoriasis is by a doctor, some children still hope that if they pretend it isn't, it will magically disappear. And if your child doesn't agree with the treatment, you'll face a lot of resistance and eye rolling.

To help your child understand illness and strengthen their sense of control, you can:

Give him books or website links about psoriasis (preferably written by children who have it) and talk about it later.
Explain that it's not his fault. Tell him about family members who might have him.
Encourage him to ask questions during visits to the doctor.
Make him responsible for treatment from an early age. Even first graders can apply moisturizers, and older kids can take full control.

Do some role-playing

Children with psoriasis wonder how to explain this. What if someone in the school locker room makes a remark? To help you, discuss some possible answers together. A few things to consider:

Psoriasis is common.
It's not contagious, so no one can get infected.
It has nothing to do with how clean a person is or how often they shower.
There is no medicine yet, but specialists are getting closer every year.

Your child will feel more confident if they are willing to answer uncomfortable questions. Some children like questions about psoriasis. They value the opportunity to take control and educate their classmates.

Talk to school staff

Connect with people at your child's school at the beginning of each year. This is a good way to avoid problems. Try to get confirmation from staff on these issues:

There is a specific person (preferably a teacher) that your child can turn to for help.
Staff will look out for problems in the classroom or conflicts with other students such as teasing or bullying.
The gym teacher won't be surprised if your child doesn't want to wear shorts or can't participate in certain activities.

If you establish a good working relationship with the school administration early on, you will be able to act quickly and work as a team if problems arise.

Build connections

Sometimes children with psoriasis feel like they are the only ones with the problem. So help your child communicate with other children who also have the disease.

Look for groups or message boards online, or ask your child's doctor about face-to-face support groups. You can also attend summer camps for children with skin problems. These are all great ways to get help, get practical advice, and build confidence.

And this applies to you too. Talking to other parents of children with psoriasis can give you new ideas and strategies.

Consider therapy

Children with psoriasis or other chronic conditions are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and depression. Make an appointment with a therapist, such as a child psychologist or social worker, if you find that your child:

Is irritable and angry
Spends less time with friends
Has changes in sleeping or eating habits
Has problems in school

But therapy can be of great help to any child with psoriasis, even immediately after diagnosis. Therapists can offer children with chronic illnesses practical ways to deal with day-to-day problems and problems with friends and classmates.

Reassure your child on the way forward

One of the hardest things about psoriasis is how unpredictable it is and how chronic it is for life. Flashes can be for no reason. A treatment that has worked well in the past may stop working. The views of children are also changing. A child who in the past seemed perfectly healthy with symptoms may become morbidly embarrassed as soon as high school begins.

Life with a long-term skin condition has its ups and downs. So reassure your child - and yourself - that even if there are difficult days, he will be fine. It's not an easy lesson, but you're helping him develop a sense of resilience that he'll benefit from for the rest of his life.