Marked by visibility of psoriasis in everyday life.
In this study, the authors aimed at a sociological approach to the individual's everyday life with psoriasis and to this end conducted qualitative interviews with 18 persons from a county in northern Sweden. The most difficult aspects of living with psoriasis were being marked by the visibility of psoriasis, especially in the younger ages, and the visibility of joint changes. Therefore, those with both rashes and joint changes felt marked and discredited in a twofold way. Commonly used coping strategies were routinization of both the treatment and the adjustment to the marking process, and acceptance, and these strategies developed with age. Most participants experienced a good quality of life but still could find nothing positive about psoriasis. The authors suggest efforts toward increased awareness among health care professionals of the marking process and future qualitative studies about experiences of psoriasis during adolescence.
Uttjek
Margaretha
M
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Nygren
Lennart
L
Stenberg
Berndt
B
Dufåker
Mona
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden