My psoriasis was so bad I was mistaken for a burns victim – but dairy-free diet has ‘cured me’
A WOMAN says her psoriasis was so bad she was mistaken for a burns victim - but claims ditching dairy has "cured" her.
Georgia Robinson, 25, from Birmingham, became "covered head to toe" in a red, flaky, rash around three years ago.
The air hostess said it looked like someone had thrown strawberries at her and stained her skin.
She put up with comments and stares on a daily basis but says she hit a low when someone asked if she'd been in a fire.
Georgia said: “My hands and legs were always the worst and it looked like red strawberries had been thrown at me and left stains.
“It started to ruin my life and really take its toll on me, I lost so much confidence and everything began to go downhill.
“I was constantly being asked ‘what’s happened to your skin?’ or ‘is it contagious?’ and ‘why are you covered in bites?’
“But the worse was when someone asked if I had been in a fire, I can’t even describe how hurt I felt.
“Eventually I quit my job as an air hostess because my mental health began to decline, and I was severely self-conscious.
“It even got to the point where I would have suicidal thoughts because I felt so low.
“I used to think people would judge me differently and I would never meet someone.
“I am lucky enough to have amazing friends and family who helped me embrace my body and I now refuse to let my skin hold me back.”
Georgia stopped eating red meat and dairy products in October this year and says her skin has never looked better.
She is yet to find the ‘perfect cream’ but uses Xpel body care - olive oil cream two or three times a day which costs £5.
She recently posted before and after photographs to her Instagram which boasts 11k followers in a bid to raise awareness of psoriasis.
She added: “I strongly believe my skin has improved because of my diet and I’m much more healthier now.
“It isn’t not easy, but it seems to be working for me.
I strongly believe my skin has improved because of my diet and I’m much more healthier now
Georgia Robinson
“I shared the post on Instagram because I believe there’s not enough awareness regarding psoriasis, I didn’t know what it was either until I had it.
“It started as tiny little dots on my elbow, barely even noticeable but within the space of a few months I was covered from head to toe and it became a serious problem.
“I want people to hear my story and to be kinder to others.
“Psoriasis varies greatly from person to person; for some it's just a minor irritation, but for others it can majorly affect their quality of life.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.
These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.
Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.
It affects around two per cent of the UK population.
Why does it happen?
People with psoriasis have an increased production of skin cells.
Skin cells are normally made and replaced every three to four weeks, but in psoriasis this process only lasts about three to seven days.
The resulting build-up of skin cells is what creates the patches associated with psoriasis.
It is thought to be a problem with the immune system and can run in families.
How is it treated?
There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.
In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.
Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.
If these aren't effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used.
Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.
In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body.
Source: NHS
MORE ON PSORIASIS
“I used to let it get me down and I never wanted to leave my bedroom but now I have embraced it and won’t let it stop me from doing anything.
“I worked in Ibiza during the summer and was constantly in a bikini which came along with plenty of looks, stares and nasty comments unfortunately and it wasn’t easy.
“I honestly think the less you worry about it easier said than done and the more you look after yourself it will go away."