We may know the more obvious triggers for flare-ups, but Murphy's Law seems to play its hand too. In a few days the diary may hold an important business meeting, a dinner party, a first date, and predictably we will get those first itchy signals for yet another flaky flare up. Here we go again, a mix of not-very-good emotions: annoying, depressing, embarrassing, frustrating.
Doctors call Psoriasis, correctly, a chronic auto-immune skin condition but for sufferers it can be much more than that. It is like having a second job sometimes, with all the rituals. It can take its toll not just physically, but emotionally and financially. It steals happiness, it steals time (how many hours have we spent trying to cover up the bad spots, consulting with the mirror over and over, before we can step out the door?) and it just feels so bloody unfair (yes, we do bleed sometimes).
What we need to remember is that we are not alone.
Talking with other sufferers, sharing stories and symptoms, learning something new about how to live with Psoriasis - all this can help a lot. The good news - it is very easy to connect online with others who share the same problems, and with health professionals.
Mypsoriasis.co.nz is an excellent New Zealand Psoriasis community website where you can engage with sufferers and medical professionals, link to numerous resources and pick up some valuable tips from a panel of Psoriasis experts.
The panel includes dermatologists Bruce Taylor, Louise Reiche, Amanda Oakley and Steven Lamb. Their 'Top Tips' are regularly updated and cover everything from promising new treatments through to handy tips to help you minimise the impact of your Psoriasis.
You can view the TOP TIPS videos at http://www.mypsoriasis.co.nz/videos/top-tips
The sense of community, the reminder that we are not alone, sharing stories and good information makes this a must-bookmark website for New Zealanders living with Psoriasis.
While the Top Tips videos may cover things you are already aware of, we all need motivational reminders and new, helpful information to support what we already know.
The Top Tips will also teach you things you didn't know and these are often simple little strategies you can adopt to help manage your Psoriasis in your day-to-day life.
We are not alone. And with a little help from our friends, life can be a little easier.