However, look a bit deeper and you'd see red or scaly white patches covering most his body. Why? Because he has plaque psoriasis.
Living with Psoriasis
Until JJ started to develop psoriasis three years ago it wasn't something I
knew much about. I had no idea that it is estimated around 2 - 3% of the UK
population are suffering with it (according to the UK Psoriasis Association),
and it's only in the last year that I've seen just how bad it can get, both on
JJ and by joining some online support groups.
Psoriasis is a particularly difficult skin condition as there is no cure for
it, and it presents differently on each person. I'm also learning that what
works to helps relieve it at one point may stop working, and there is a
massive range of treatments to choose from. It can be quite overwhelming if I
am entirely honest.
JJ's psoriasis started off on his back, behind his ears and a patch above
his left eye, then over time it has spread and worsened. Whenever I read
about psoriasis there is always a description of it flaring up and being
worse for a while and then subsiding again. Sadly, this hasn't been the case
for JJ, the psoriasis on his body has been progressively getting worse
over the last year or so. The plaques on his face do seem to go down with
topical steroid creams but we are really trying to limit the use of those.
You can see the from the zoomed-in photos below the reality of how psoriasis
can look when you are up close. JJ's daily reality is a scalp that itches
and flakes excessively leaving him with 'dandruff' shoulders, red or scaly
white patches on his face and his body, constant moisturising to help take
away the tightness, itchiness or even pain of his skin, a floor that needs
hoovering almost as soon as you've just done it and bedclothes that end up
covered in emollient.
He doesn't have the luxury of most teenage boys, that of choosing if he has
a skincare regime, without looking after his skin he'd be uncomfortable all
the time.