n.y. times take on psoriasis

Yvetta Fedorova / N.Y. Times

The N.Y. Times had an interesting article about psoriasis today.

The author, Jane Brody, hits the high (or low, depending on your perspective) points about having the disease: the shame and embarrassment that so often is an unwelcome side effect; the underlying immunological factors; that genetic and other factors contribute to psoriasis; the various comorbitities that can wreak even more havoc on a person’s life.

And she should know; her husband has psoriasis (well, she writes he had psoriasis—but we all know that even if it’s in remission, it’s never really gone).

Brody shares some good tips for psoriasis sufferers: don’t scratch the legions—no matter how intense the itch; be patient; moisturize, moisturize, moisturize; and, of course, seek treatment.

Overall, I thought it was a good piece, though I would have been interested in hearing from her husband, to hear more of how it has been for him in his own words. Maybe it’s just me, but I like hearing the stories of others with the disease; I like swapping war stories and treatment solutions, like finding out the crazy things doctors say to us that weren’t funny then but have to be funny now.

Most of all, I like it when people with the disease are allowed to speak for themselves, to be their own voices, instead of having healthy people speak for us. I wouldn’t go so far as to accuse the Grey Lady of ablism—I’m not so sure that’s what’s at work here—but it would be nice if one of the 7 million people with psoriasis would have been tapped to write something. (N.Y. Times, in case you’re wondering, I am always available to write a piece. Just saying.)

Regardless, it’s nice to have some pub—especially good pub like this—in a newspaper as widely read as the N.Y. Times. It can only help when good information is put out there; maybe next time readers will see someone with psoriasis and not edge away. I’d call that a victory.