mossyfawnron

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a dry scalp. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t using some sort of dandruff shampoo, all through middle and high school. I never wore my hair up during school because I had dry ears and was extremely self conscious of it. My hands were made fun of in elementary for being so dry compared to the other kids.

Fast forward to July 2024, I started having a huge flare up. At first it looked like dry itchy patches on my palms, and my scalp got drier than usual. I went to a doctor and got prescribed a steroid cream, which did nothing… I waited a few months, switching dandruff shampoos and lotions every month along the way hoping to cure the dry skin. I had no health insurance, and I was at my wits end. I decided to bite the bullet and use my already small savings to see a different doctor. She diagnosed me with psoriasis, and talked me through the options.

We decided on an injectable medication called Skyrizi, but I couldn’t afford its steep price (when I say steep I mean it. This thing is $22k per dose and I need 2 doses at the start and 1 dose every 3 months after that.) I applied for assistance, and was told to wait for a decision. I was also prescribed a hand ointment and a scalp drop for the meantime.

A couple weeks passed… and got news today that I was accepted for assistance! I honestly started crying because I was so happy. My psoriasis has been painful, annoying, every negative word under the sun. I’m so excited to get it taken care of.

I’m very nervous for the injectable aspect… I’m such a squeamish person now and can’t handle anything with long needles especially if I have to do it myself. I may have someone else help me!

I don’t quite feel comfortable showing photos of my scalp but I will a little.

It looks like this all over my head, it’s painful and tight constantly. I scrub it all off in showers but it just comes back within the hour. And like I said, I’m beyond self conscious about this, so I’m powering through showing it… all for awareness and support for other people suffering with this condition. Also for my own documentation and comparison as I go through this journey!