The summer season is a source of stress for 30% of people suffering from psoriasis, a skin disease characterized by red patches covered with scales.
- 46% of parents with psoriasis have already asked relatives to accompany their child on outings for them
- More than 4 out of 10 people have oriented the choice of their child’s activities so that they are more adapted to their skin problem
Summer is one of the most anticipated times of year for the French. But many people with psoriasis fear the arrival of this season, more precisely of sunny days and heat. These patients are afraid to wear t-shirts, skirts or even shorts, because these clothes reveal their body and in particular their inflammatory, red patches topped with strips of white skin, caused by this skin disease.
In a recent study, the France Psoriasis association and the biopharmaceutical laboratory AbbVie highlighted the impact of this skin pathology on the choice of holidays, on the activities and on the social life of patients. As part of this work, they interviewed 500 French people aged 18 and over, diagnosed by a doctor as suffering from psoriasis, using an online questionnaire.
“Psoriasis is a pathology that isolates”
According to the results, 30% of the patients declared that summer was a source of stress for them. For 29% of those surveyed, the summer period causes sadness, and even anger for a quarter of them. “38% have already stayed at home on very hot days to avoid uncovering themselves or have gone out at odd times to avoid the crowds. Psoriasis is a pathology that isolates”, said Claire Roussel, medical director AbbVie France, in a press release. Nearly 6 out of 10 people say they hide under more covering clothes. They are ashamed of their disease and do not want to answer questions related to their psoriasis, receive derogatory comments or be teased.
Vacation cancellation due to psoriasis
According to the association, a quarter of patients have already given up their holidays by the sea, a swimming pool, in the mountains or with friends because of their condition. Others decide to take their holidays during another period during which the temperatures are lower. “Psoriasis thus conditions social life during this period: more than a third of patients will refocus on outings in small groups (37%) or will favor individual activities (36%). A situation that has a strong impact on young people, since on average, one in two young people has already canceled their holidays because of their psoriasis”, can we read in the study.
An impact on love life
Psoriasis also affects the romantic relationships of patients. According to the work, 56% of young people affected by the pathology have already given up on a romantic adventure in the summer, because they did not feel able to talk about their psoriasis. “These results confirm the observations made thanks to the association’s hotline”, concluded Bénédicte Charles, president of France Psoriasis.