As you said in your first post, psoriasis is actually not as uncommon as you might think (Wikipedia says about 1.5%). Maybe most people feel uncomfortable (I notice, for example, that you are posting anonymously), or just don't know that the thread is here.
I am not so sure that the psychological toll of the condition has been commensurate with the severity. I mean, it will get better or worse over time and I do not find that my mind shifts in one direction or the other. As long as its there, no matter how discreetly, it will bother me. It was hard growing up, because I lacked the maturity to deal with it, and I was at an impressionable age. Being older (well, 20), I get on a little better and try hard to be more positive.
I feel for you because it's new and probably a little bit scary. It's not that well known as a condition, despite its apparent ubiquity. You don't know if it's going to get worse, whether you're stuck with it. Your mind probably dwells on it and overestimates its severity, particularly in other people's eyes.
I can't promise that everything will come up roses. The rational parts of my brain say that most people probably look because it's a bit unusual and that a career as a model or porn star (the option would have been nice, at least
) is out of the question -- apart from that, no one really cares (if they do, they're probably not worth your time). But then I think about modern society's fixation on aesthetic perfection, the unnecessary negative comments that have come my way (almost entirely from girls my age unfortunately - at least the ones that I heard); I wonder how it will impact my future. Yet, everyone has these concerns growing up, and everyone has something about themselves that they'd change, so I try to focus on the positives.
What I shall say is that the condition spreads for some people, but not for others. I have known people who have small outbreaks on their hands every once in a while, but it is confined to that area. If you have a family history of the condition, that would probably provide a reliable yardstick. If not, who knows? Keep on top of your treatments, and you'll do ok.
I was first diagnosed with psoriasis when I was about 6 or 7. Obviously I had it by that time, possibly even from when I was a baby (I know that I had cradle cap as a baby, which is a related condition - either a misdiagnosis or just lousy skin).
It was definitely diagnosed from the appearance of the plaques on my legs, because they were already reasonably severe by that point. I presume that my scalp got worse later and went unnoticed at that time, since I can't recall it being mentioned. I also had trouble with my face at that time, but it later cleared up of its own volition.
It just got more severe on my legs and scalp over the years, and didn't spread to my upper arms and shoulders until I was about 15/16. In the last few years, it has got much worse, spreading to my back, chest, lower arms, face. I also find that if I get cuts anywhere on my skin, they tend to heal poorly and often become sites for plaques, which is possibly why plaques emerged on my arms and back (I got a lot of small cuts from playing rugby). Funnily enough, the likely areas for a sufferer nails and outside of joints) have only appeared very recently for me. It's different for everyone.
The mechanism, causes and general pathology of psoriasis remains poorly understood. There is no good reason to expect the condition to spread or get worse (some people find that it improves with age). One person's experience is not a worthwhile representation. I have found my skin to have good or bad periods almost idiopathically. It may remain constant for a long time, then get suddenly better or worse.
I would tell you to keep up with the treatments that you have been prescribed at the moment. Whilst they may not 'cure' you, they'll certainly keep on top of things, and keep the condition manageable. Part of the reason my skin got so much worse after about 15/16 is that I completely lost my **** in frustration at poor results, and just completely gave up on it. I wouldn't see doctors, lost what remained of my self-confidence etc.. I'd just had enough by that point.
That set me back a long way, and I would not advise it
By the time that I got back on track (relatively recently), things had got worse. On the plus side, these more recent patches do at least respond much better to treatment, while the older stuff just won't really budge.
As for the present day, I'm having a bit of a flare-up because of exam stress (I presume), but the summer weather is often very effective in clearing it up (assuming, of course, that I go outside). My doctor suggests phototherapy as a next step. I don't know why I don't go for it. I guess it's because I know that it will only work temporarily work and stave off the condition for perhaps a year or two before it comes back. Then again, talking about it as I have not done for a long time makes me think that it's probably the right choice now. Maybe I'll mention it to my GP when I next see him.
I've probably written enough for today, so I'll leave it there. Also, anything you don't feel comfortable writing on the forum, you can always PM to me