Helping Your Child Cope with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease of the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body, though very commonly affects visible areas of the body, such as the hands, elbows or the trunk of the body. Originally believed to be a form of leprosy, people who have psoriasis often find themselves trying to cope with the burdens of depression, anxiety and self-consciousness, as well as the disease. This is particularly true in young people that become afflicted with the disease. I became all too well-aware of this, not only after my son was discovered to have psoriasis, but also after he vocalized his thoughts and feelings to me. It was then that I realized just how difficult it must be for children who suffer from this skin condition.

Understanding Psoriasis

Psoriasis affects nearly 7.5 million people in the United States and, disturbingly, nearly 1/3 of all the cases reported are children. A genetic skin disease, it's believed that psoriasis occurs when the immune system misfires and tells the body to produce skin cells at an accelerated rate. Rather than being shed, like normal skin cells, these new skin cells accumulate and become large scaly patches. In some cases, they can create painful lesions, with redness and swelling. With others, the psoriasis can be pustulent, forming pus-filled raised bumps on the hands, feet or other parts of the body. Psoriasis can vary from a small scaly patch on the arm, to large unsightly patches all over the body. It can cause abnormalities in the fingernails and toenails, can cause arthritis and, in some cases, can even be fatal.

Most people learn they have psoriasis between the ages of 15 and 35, though this disease can strike at any age, from infancy on. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, roughly 20,000 children under the age of 10 years, are diagnosed as having psoriasis. This number may still be low, however, as psoriasis is often misdiagnosed or left untreated. For instance, heavy scaling on the scalp could be a form of psoriasis, though it can easily be misdiagnosed as just a severe case of dandruff. A few things that these children seem to have in common, however, is that they must have the right genetic components (quite often, children who are diagnosed with psoriasis have at least one parent with the disease) and the disease seems to usually be triggered by some form of stress or illness, such as strep or ear infections. While many people might carry some of the genetic makeup that can cause psoriasis, it seems to take the right mix of genetic material and triggers to cause the immune system to misfire and the psoriasis to flare up.

Medical Treatments for Children with Psoriasis

It's important to note that there is currently no cure for psoriasis. There are, however, a wide variety of different treatments that can be used to help keep the disease under control. Unfortunately, not all of these different treatments can be used on children, due to different side effects or problems stemming from prolonged usage. For infants, for instance, there is very little that can be done to treat psoriasis. In these cases, steps are simply taken to help minimize discomfort - such as using oatmeal baths or special creams to help alleviate discomfort, and ensuring the scaly patches are kept well-moisturized. Every case can be different, however, so it's important to discuss any kind of possible treatment with your doctor, prior to trying it, especially with infants.

One of the best (and most inexpensive) ways of treating a child with psoriasis, is simply to get them out and playing in the sunshine. Simple exposure to sunlight works really well for children with mild psoriasis - just be sure to protect the rest of their skin with a good sunscreen to avoid burning. For children with more moderate cases of psoriasis, treatment may also include ultraviolet light (UVB) therapy. This is usually the most common treatment for teenagers, as well, since oral treatments and topical steroids may prove too strong for a teenager's system. Again, discuss different treatment options with your doctor first - He's sure to have some good ideas with how best to treat your child's psoriasis.

The Importance of Listening

I never gave much thought to my son's psoriasis, aside from the fact that he simply had it. He'd complain about his head itching, so we would buy him medicated shampoos with coal tar and tea tree oil (he really says this helps). It never really seemed to be all that big of a thing - out of sight, out of mind, you know? But, one day, I reprimanded him because I caught him reaching up to scratch his head, and he said something to me that really opened my eyes to what children who have psoriasis must go through. He said, "You know, mom...I really hate having psoriasis. It's embarrassing. I go out places or over to my friends' houses, and I scratch my head without even thinking about it. It's like I have really bad dandruff or lice or something."

Needless to say, this made me realize that not only must this disease be uncomfortable for my son, but it was emotionally upsetting to him as well. He is fortunate to only have his scalp affected - one can only imagine how it affects children with more severe and visible forms of psoriasis. We all know how difficult it can be to be 'different' when you're a child. It was then that I realized just how important it is for children to not only have the physical relief of treatments for their condition, but it's also very important that they have emotional support as well.

There are many ways of offering your child the emotional support that he or she needs. The most important, of course, is simply listening. Sometimes, children just need to talk about what is troubling them, particularly if they don't understand. Educate them about it, not only for their own peace of mind, but so they can also help to educate their friends or will be better equipped to handle questions that other children (or adults) might pose to them.

In addition to educating our children, we must also teach them acceptance. Currently, there is no cure for Psoriasis, even though research is always being done in search of one. There are, however, many ways to treat the discomfort of this disease - Instead of making decisions for your child, get them involved and talk to them about it. Let them share a part in the decision-making process, so that they don't feel so helpless.

Even if you choose to avoid phototherapy and other more drastic treatments, let your child be involved in trying safe home remedies and discussions on which treatments they like best and what ones they think work and why. Giving them the feeling that they have power over the treatments makes them feel like they have power over this disease, and can actually be beneficial for your child's skin condition. Just make sure that you research all home remedies first and talk to your doctor, first, to make sure that he says it's safe.

Home Remedies for Psoriasis Sufferers

While you should always talk to your doctor, prior to trying any home remedy (particularly on infants and small children), here are several home remedies that just might help to ease some of your child's discomfort:

1. Taking a Dip - Going for a swim can help to rehydrate dry skin and soften the thick psoriasis scales without causing damage to your child's skin. If you can't find time to go swimming right now, encourage your son or daughter to go take a soak in the bathtub or to even take a tepid shower. Just try to avoid taking too hot of a bath, as that can irritate the skin more, causing further itching. Also, when your child gets out of the bath or finishes swimming, make sure they use a good moisturizer within just a couple minutes of getting out of the water - this will help to lock the moisture in.

2. Choosing a Good Moisturizer - Moisturizers are essential for children with psoriasis. Look for lotions and creams that are heavy and feel almost greasy to the touch, as these are good for locking the moisture into your skin. I've found that lotions with olive oil are quite good as well as any lotion that contains lactic acid. If you're looking for an inexpensive alternative, try Vaseline petroleum jelly, bag balm, or even cooking oils can help soften the plaques.

3. Try Different Soaps, Shampoos and Detergents - This was a big help for us, when we started trying different ones out. Some soaps and shampoos would only make things worse, whereas others helped to moisturize. Oatmeal soaps and body washes can help soothe the itches and my son swears by the Tea Tree Oil shampoos and conditioners, particularly those with mint extract. He tells me that not only does it help with the sores that he gets, but that the mint seems to cool the hot spots and makes them less itchy. Coal tar shampoo has also helped to some degree. Additionally, watch what you're washing your clothes in, Mom - Some cleaning agents can further aggravate Psoriasis, making your child itch even more.

4. Eat Right and Stay Fit - Psoriasis sufferers often complain that their condition worsens if they gain weight. Don't rush out and force your child into a diet, but do keep in mind that obesity can be a factor - Promote your child to eat healthy alternatives to junk foods. Carrot sticks, celery, apples and grapes are a lot better than chips (and definitely make sure they're trading out some of that soda for healthier drinks, like water and milk).

5. Play Outside - With so many kids addicted to the internet and video games, it's important to remind them to get outside and have some fun. Children with psoriasis should be encouraged to engage in outdoor fun, go for walks, or even spend an hour or two outside reading a book or listening to some music on an mp3 player. Sunshine does wonders for helping kids with psoriasis - just make sure they also wear sunscreen to prevent burns. Remember - further injury to the skin can cause psoriasis to worsen.

There are many things you can do to help your child cope with psoriasis. The most important thing, is to listen to your child's fears, concerns and frustrations - then try to offer positive solutions to the troubles that they face. Remember that there is more to psoriasis than just physical discomfort. We hope this brings you both some relief from the discomforts of psoriasis!