Exam stress at uni leaves student covered in painful red, flaky patches of psoriasis
A STUDENT has told of how she is too embarrassed to leave the house after exam stress caused her to develop a skin condition that has left her covered in snake-like scales.
Beth Webster, 23, first noticed a few pin-prick like spots in the final year of her chemistry degree.
But within four months the tiny spots grew – into unsightly coin-sized splodges across her entire body.
Now, the University of Aberdeen student is covered in scaly, snake-like skin and painful, itchy patches all over her body.
Beth, who is now studying for a master’s in Journalism, was diagnosed with psoriasis – a condition characterised by red, flaky, crusty patches of skin, covered in silvery scales – which she puts down to stress.
The condition not only left her embarrassed to leave the house, it completely changed her lifestyle.
Beth, from Aberdeen, Scotland, said: “It was taking me so long in the mornings to get ready – up to two to three hours – because I had to shower and moisturise everywhere – following doctor’s advice, by covering my skin in cream four times a day.
“I went through quite a rough time at university.
“I suffered a bereavement during my exams and studying was so stressful.
“I think it was all just a bit overwhelming.”
With so much going on, Beth developed anxiety and soon noticed the spots on her skin.
Beth saw her GP and, to her dismay, was originally diagnosed with scabies – an itchy skin condition caused by the immune system reacting to mites and their saliva, eggs and faeces.
She recalled: “I originally got misdiagnosed… they told me it was scabies, which was horrific.
“I had to tell my boyfriend and my whole family because it is contagious and transferred through close contact with the skin. I was really embarrassed.”
The prescribed cream for scabies didn’t work though and, after struggling on through her exams, Beth consulted a nurse who said her skin condition had been misdiagnosed.
But she was baffled as to what was causing the student’s dry skin.
Two months after Beth was told she had scabies doctors diagnosed psoriasis and prescribed Dovobet, a steroid gel.
It helped, but it took her around two hours each day to apply, an hour in the morning and an hour at night to cover up the patches.
Beth’s daily routine included showering and exfoliating to remove dead skin cells, moisturising four times a day and applying make-up.
She used foundation on her face, as well as special leg make-up.
With the lengthy routine taking up most of her day, Beth would skip the process and, fretting about her unsightly skin, she started to avoid leaving the house.
She said: “It got to the point where I couldn’t be bothered.
“I would try to stay home as much as I could. I was trying to force myself to go out and not hide away, but it was difficult.”
“On nights out I couldn’t go out wearing a dress. I had to be really careful about what I was going to wear.
“I think it was easier to put on a long sleeved top to hide my flaky skin.”
After her relationship ended, she struggled to date, because it took so long to manage her condition and baring all was a daunting prospect.
“I didn’t want to get a negative reaction off guys,” she said.
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After being referred to the hospital, doctors advised Beth to wean herself off the Dovobet gel she was previously prescribed, as steroid creams thin the skin.
Instead, they put her on the waiting list to receive UVB phototherapy – an ultra violet light treatment that helps to slow down the production of new skin cells.
In the meantime, the patches on Beth’s skin became bigger and bigger, but she found solace by reading blogs written by psoriasis sufferers who championed the ‘Get Your Skin Out’ campaign.
She added: “It’s showing people that it’s normal and it’s okay.
“It made me more confident, but I did still worry about what people might say.”
Fortunately, Beth was able to receive the ultra violet light therapy on the NHS.
At first, she could only use if for short, 17 second exposures, due to the strength of the rays and the risk of burning.
But, she has now built up to three minute 42 second sessions, three times a week.
She has been receiving the treatment for five weeks and still has four weeks of sessions remaining.
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
Her face is now free of psoriasis and the red, sore and flaky marks all over her body have faded to faint, brown patches.
She added: “I’m hoping eventually the marks will go, but I’m not that bothered any more about it, because it doesn’t feel horrible.”
Doctors don’t know if the psoriasis will return after the UVB phototherapy finishes and if so, to what degree, but Beth remains optimistic.
She said: “I am scared it might come back, but I am sharing my story along the way to help others.
“I think it will help people especially if they are seeing the progress for light treatment, it would be good to see it has worked for someone.”
Beth is supported by the
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