July 18, 2024 • 19 mins
In this last episode of season one of Skinquiries, we’re talking about plaque psoriasis, the trials of struggling with a visible and sometimes isolating skin condition, and the triumphs of overcoming self-consciousness and finding accurate treatment.
We’re joined by Jeanelle Rodriguez, who found confidence in herself regardless of the state of her flare-ups through determination and creating community. We're also joined by triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, who approaches skincare through the lens of holistic healing.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Growing up, Janelle Rodriguez always felt a disconnect between the
life that she wanted and the life she was living,
all because of a chronic skin condition.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I would have played sports in high school, like I have,
like this competitive nature to me.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Probably would have joined a dance team.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I love to dance, but I wouldn't do these things
because I was so afraid of showing my skin having
to wear a certain uniform. And so as the years
were passing and I keep missing out on opportunities, missing
out on things. Eventually, when I finished high school, I
felt like those years kind of passed by and I
experienced a lot of the things I would have wanted to.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Plaque siasis is not just a skin condition. It's a
visible barrier that can hold you back from living your
life to the fullest. But as we'll hear from Janelle,
with the right mindset, treatments and lifestyle adjustments, it doesn't
have to Hi, guys, and welcome. I'm so glad you're here.
(00:56):
I'm Nicole Berry and this is Skin Queries, a show
all about our skin and its health as.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
We grow in age.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Our skin is really a record of a life well lived,
because there isn't one body part that I could think
of that reflects our well being as clearly as our skin.
So let's go on this journey together to really understand
what's going on with our skin. Let's unravel the mysteries
happening inside and out. Today we're talking about an inflammatory condition, placksoriasis.
(01:30):
I can't believe this is the last episode of this
season of Skin Queries. We've talked so much about the skin,
whether it's nutrition, extreme temperatures, aging the sun, even my
own husband's story about how stress has affected him physically.
As you know, Nick has placksoriasis and it flares when
he gets stressed. And one of the biggest things I
(01:50):
learned about our journey together is that it's so important
to empathize, be present, and listen.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
So that's what we're going to do today.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Listen because Janelle read Vegas has a story to tell.
It's about what it was like growing up with severe
psoriasis and how she learned to cope through acceptance and
community building. We're also going to hear from doctor Memina
to Regano about placksoriasis and how to treat it. According
to the National Psoriasis Foundation, placsoriasis affects about eight million
(02:20):
people in the United States alone. It's one of the
most common autoimmune diseases out there. First, here's Janelle. She
was diagnosed with psoriasis at just four years old.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think the first place was my cheek, and I
don't have too much of a memory of what that
was like. Once it started to surface on my skin.
I think my mother had to take action very quickly
to meet with a dermatologist, especially because it surfaced around
the time that I was starting school and with it
kind of looking like chicken pox, for example, because of
(02:54):
all the spots, there was always a concern even if
they would say, like, it's not contagious, but they needed
like some sort of medical record to prove.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
That, and so were they able to diagnose you with plaxorisis.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I know at some point they did have to get
like a piece of my skin, and I can't forget
that because it was so painful when they removed like
a chunk of it.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
I still have like the scar on my leg.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
And I think from there it was like a for
sure it's placorisis. And with plaxorisis, it surfaces kind of everywhere,
at least for me, like I got it on my elbows, knees,
and the spots they appeared very small, but they started
to kind of grow in time, and you know, they
get very flaky. So I think with just seeing it visibly,
you can tell what it is, but then having that
(03:42):
biopsy was kind of like confirming its psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Janelle was given a prescription, but having a visible condition
put her in a lot of uncomfortable situations.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I got a lot of attention in elementary school where
my pleasorisis it's also on my scalp as well, so
I had some experiences where a teacher would like pull
me out of class so that I could see the nurse,
and if they didn't have like a letter from the doctor,
they would send me home. So very early on, I
started to have experiences where I just noticed it brought
(04:14):
some sort of attention to me. It wasn't always positive,
and little by little I started to take it very
personally as I started getting older, and you know, growing
up in New York, a lot of times like we
would go to public pools and I was getting ready
to go to a pool. Then when they saw me,
they kind of started to question, you know, was this contagious.
Can she come into the pool and swim with other people?
(04:36):
And I remember my oldest sister getting like upset, and
my sisters would always come to my defense of this
would happen, So I kind of always felt very protected.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
According to a study in the Journal of the American
Academy of Dermatology, sarria sis carries such a huge amount
of stigma, and many people have the misconception that it's
contagious and infectious, which of course it is not. Thankfully,
Janelle had her older sisters to protect her and look
out for her, but that didn't last long. When she
started in middle school, Janelle was left to face that
(05:07):
judgment and stigma on her own.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I moved to Florida when I was about almost
twelve years old. And I'm living in a state now
where it's hot every day.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Right, But now I'm.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Going to school wearing like short sleeves, capris, maybe a skirt.
And now I'm realizing I'm more conscious, like I'm more
aware of my surroundings. And I would notice how kids
would look at me. I would get a lot of
comments about what is that, or it would be compared
to something, and little by little I started to get
very insecure about my skin.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I think we're so self consciousnessed teeths regardless of what's
going on, you know. And to add that on top
of it, how did that affect your confidence?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I just remember I wanted to the best way I
can explain it is like I want to blend in.
I don't want to draw too much attention to me
where people can see my skin and ask me questions.
And here in Florida, when we experienced a cold front
and I wore like a sweater to school and long pants,
I remember how safe I felt. And that's like the
(06:11):
best way that I can describe how I started to
kind of isolate and hide my skin. It was because
for the first time, like I could sit on my
desk and not not be afraid to show my arms
and things like that. And over the years that affected
my confidence because I started to really hide myself and
isolate and I was hiding something that's a big part
(06:33):
of who I am.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And this insecurity made her miss out on a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Like I would have been someone that I would have
played sports in high school, like I have like this
competitive nature to me, probably would have joined a dance
team I love to dance, but I wouldn't do these
things because I was so afraid of showing my skin
having to wear a certain uniform. And so as the
years were passing and I keep missing out on opportunities,
missing out on things. Eventually, when I finished high school,
(06:59):
I felt like those years kind of passed by and
I didn't.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Experience a lot of the things I would have wanted.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
To got to today. And Janelle is so much more
comfortable in her skin. But funny enough, that did not
come from any improvement to her skin. It was the
determination to change her mindset.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So when I was twenty and I remember I was
getting ready to move. I was moving to New York,
and I was like really looking forward to the summer,
like my skin was clearing up. I was thinking about
all the things I was going to wear, and I
was so excited for that. I was waiting for like
that clear skin moment to like finally show up in
the world as I wanted to.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
And right before I moved, I went through one of.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
The worst flares that I've ever had, and it was
just like such a letdown for me, and I felt
like defeated in a way, like I was really looking
forward to that, and I remember that's kind of when
I had my AHA moment, was because I was just
so devastated by that and I felt defeated and that
I kind of questioned myself, like I reflected on like
the past six years and how I've lived, and I
(08:02):
kind of asked myself, like do I want to continue
living this way?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And I kind of made myself a promise.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I'm like, I can't keep living like this, Like I
can't keep hiding and waiting for the perfect moment to
dress the way that I want to do the things
that I want. So when I moved I started to
kind of challenge myself then to really just take it
as a fresh start and to wear the things that
I want.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
And it was hard.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I had so many triggers, as you can imagine, like
sitting in a train and you know, my legs are
covered in it, my face and people could just stare
at you.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But it was like the.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Best decision because that kind of helped me to then
kind of move forward to where I am today.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It's so inspiring to hear this revelation because Janelle made
the decision to not let her skin hold her back.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Anymore. And what's even more, she now helps.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Others who are going through the same thing by sharing
her experience with psoriasis online. In fact, Janelle has cultivated
a whole community, which, as my next guest will tell you,
is so important when it comes to feeling better.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
I can't wait for you to hear.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
What she has to say right after this break, Welcome
back to skin Qureise. Earlier, Janelle shared her journey with
plaxoriasis and how she learned to feel comfortable within her
own skin even when she's going through a flara. Now
(09:23):
let's get into the science behind soriasis treatments and therapies.
I'd like to introduce doctor Mamina to Regano.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Hi.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
They're nice to meet you.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I would love for you to kick it off and
introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your practice.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
I am a triple board certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatic pathologist.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
I am based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
I see the full gamut, including medical dermatology and some
cosmetic dermatology as well.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
So let's start with plaquorisis.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Can you explain what that is, and how does that
differ from other types of psoriasis.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yes, well, placksoriasis is probably what we traditionally know as psoriasis,
and it shows up on the skin as these usually
like thick, scaly, pinkish red plaques. They love the elbows
and knees, but they also can certainly occur everywhere on
the body. The scalp is another common area I see
(10:29):
off it on the back, like lower back, like above
the buttock area. It can be pretty debilitating for a
lot of people in terms of its appearance. It can
be itchy, but I think the appearance is what really
affects people the most.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
So is plackariasis.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Is it a symptom of something else or is it
something that stands alone.
Speaker 6 (10:48):
Yeah, I almost look at psoriasis as kind of like
the canary in the coal mine, and so in a way,
and this might sound crazy to people, but in a
way could almost be a blessing if you have psoriasis,
you notice any sort of psoriasis forming on your body,
because it can be an indication that there is internal inflammation.
(11:09):
So internal inflammation that potentially can transform into concerning cardiometabolic
conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and it's almost like
a warning sign when you see zoriasis, like, hey, your
body's inflamed. Let's try to Let's try to do what
we can to decrease that inflammatory load so that bad
(11:30):
things don't happen in the future.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
According to the National Library of Medicine, inflammation is your
body's response to an irritant. It's trying to fight something
foreign in your body. Some sides of inflammation could be redness, swelling, overheating, even.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Loss of function.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Think about when you have a fever or can't smell,
when you have a cold. When you have psoriasis, your
T cells, which is a type of white blood cell,
can become overactive and actually attack.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Your skin by mistake.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Amina says that there are certain things that you can
do to try and decrease that inflammatory load.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
So if somebody has psoriasis, I do some counseling, and
there's like certain lifestyle changes with your diet, exercise. There
are certain supplements that can be helpful when it comes
to diet. The most compelling evidence that is out there
is with a Mediterranean based diet that has been shown
to be helpful for people with psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm actually wondering at what point should someone actually go
see a dermatologist. Is seeing a dermatologist the best place
to start.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
I think that if the rash is pretty minimal, if
it's if it's one or two plaques and you are
using an over the counter hydrocortisone it resolves, you know,
and nothing recurs, you can probably lay low. But if
it resolves and it recurs, or if it's not resolving,
or if you're getting more plaques or patches on the body,
(12:57):
definitely something to see a dermatologist. And psoriasis can be
a pretty easy diagnosis to make visually, but there are
some subtleties to it, and if it doesn't fully fit
with psoriasis, oftentimes dermatologists will do a biopsy. And that's
important because there are a lot of other skin conditions
(13:17):
out there not as common, but there are skin conditions
out there that can look like zoriasis, and you would
want to make sure that you have the right diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
What are some of the treatments conventionally that someone can
address their psoriasis?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
So for very mild soriasis, we will all these treatments
are like anti inflammatory, So when it comes to creams,
we do a lot of topical steroid creams. They're anti inflammatory, okay,
and they're fine for intermittent use, but they're not long term.
When people start to get more extensive psoriasis or if
it's just hard to manage, like when it's in the scalp,
it gets to be a pain to put creams or
(13:51):
solutions in the scalp and shampoos consistently, so that's when
systemic therapies will play a big role. There are newer
oral betas which are considered more immunomodulatory, so not immunosuppressive.
So in a way, I like those for people who
need systemic therapy, but they're concerned about like the immune
suppressing effects of some of these systemic agents, so this
(14:13):
one is kind of like a nice like stepping stone.
And then there's the injectibles, which we call biologics, and
these are essentially like antibodies that bind to certain inflammatory
markers or receptors that play a role in psoriasis, and
you know, once again considered immune suppressive. And now there's
(14:34):
just been a whole slew of newer ones that are
I would say, more specific for people with I would
say at least ten percent body surface area or higher
or really bad scalp or palmer plant orsoriasis.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
They would be good candidates.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
How do your patients usually react when you finally diagnose
them and get them on a treatment plan.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I think people feel hope.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Hmm.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
They are like there's a sense of relief.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
There's a sense of hope, And I think that that's
really important too, to like take that mental burden, that
stress of dealing with the disease on their own, telling
them we got you. There's so many great treatments for it.
Because the stress surrounding the disease can also aggravate the disease.
We do have legitimate studies that show that stress increase psoriasis.
(15:27):
Just having a plan, an action plan, I think relieves
that stress. And then when the patients return and their
psoriasis is better, and like could just see the confidence shift.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, you could see that they're just like.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Beaming with more joy and they're enjoying life more, which
is so fulfilling. But yeah, there's definitely a big mental
aspect when it comes to treating psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I know firsthand that stress can be a common trigger
when it comes to psoriasis. In a recent episode about
stress and skin, we talked about how it affects my
husband with his flare ups. So managing stress is actually
such an important part of the treatment plan.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
So just setting aside like sixty seconds and just noticing
your breath for those like sixty seconds, like setting up
timer and just noticing your breath work. And then the
other thing is community, like making sure that you are
in touch with those loved ones around you, staying in
communication with them, whether it's family, friends, but being involved
(16:27):
in community.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
And what would your message be to someone who is
feeling isolated or discouraged because of their skin condition.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I first want to encourage people that it's it's not
their fault, and also want to encourage people that they're
not alone.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's so common.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
And there are so many great treatments, even like just
from when I started practicing, over the last ten years,
the amount of new treatment options there are for crisis
has been amazing, And you don't have to live with
this condition on your skin.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Thank you, Mamina, Thank you so much for taking the
time to chat.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for having me.
I love talking about this.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I love that doctor Mamina mentions the importance of community
and support as we heard it's something that Janelle relied
on when growing up.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
When I was a teenager, I did find a blog
called Sarisis Secrets, and people would anonymously share experiences that
they were having with crisis, for example, like the isolation,
wearing sweaters in the summer, having to like dust off
the scalp flakes that fall on your shoulder. That helped
me so much to know I wasn't doing some of
(17:36):
these things like on my own, that there were other
people out there in the world that were experiencing the
same thing and also dealing with it in the same way.
I would definitely say that's top is really reaching out
and talking about what you're experiencing and getting help if needed,
and to really give yourself grace in this journey because
(17:57):
it is difficult. Flares can really in a way impact
you a lot, not just the physical but mentally, So
it's so important to be graceful with yourself while you're
in the process of figuring out what medication works for you,
what lifestyle is going to look like.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I love this advice.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
I'm sure that a lot of people are going to
find that so helpful. Well, that is a wrap on
this season of skin Queries. Thank you so much for
joining me throughout all these episodes. I don't know about you,
but I've learned so much so to really feel the
most confident and at home in my skin, it's essential
(18:37):
first to be present and accept everything that is happening
to it. But that doesn't mean we are left to
our own devices. On the contrary, we have so many
resources to help our skin glow and be the best
it can be. As always, it's important to care for
our bodies inside and out.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
It means eat.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Well, take care of ourselves, find resources to relax, find
peace and enjoy. But if there's something specific that our
skin is calling for attention, never hesitate to reach out
and ask for help. Follow your intuition, be your own
advocate so you can feel your best, whatever that means
for you. Skin Queries is hosted by myself Nicole Berry,
(19:19):
An executive produced by Evon Sheehan.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Our senior producer is Tory Weldon.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Our junior producer is reem Al mcgrabi, with help from
Austin Johnson. The show is mixed and features original music
by Sam Sagan. The entire first season of skin Queries
is now available to binge on America's number one podcast network,
iHeart Listen in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Wherever you get your podcasts, and we'd
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Love to know what you think, so make sure to
leave a review until next time.
Growing up, Janelle Rodriguez always felt a disconnect between the
life that she wanted and the life she was living,
all because of a chronic skin condition.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I would have played sports in high school, like I have,
like this competitive nature to me.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Probably would have joined a dance team.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I love to dance, but I wouldn't do these things
because I was so afraid of showing my skin having
to wear a certain uniform. And so as the years
were passing and I keep missing out on opportunities, missing
out on things. Eventually, when I finished high school, I
felt like those years kind of passed by and I
experienced a lot of the things I would have wanted to.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Plaque siasis is not just a skin condition. It's a
visible barrier that can hold you back from living your
life to the fullest. But as we'll hear from Janelle,
with the right mindset, treatments and lifestyle adjustments, it doesn't
have to Hi, guys, and welcome. I'm so glad you're here.
(00:56):
I'm Nicole Berry and this is Skin Queries, a show
all about our skin and its health as.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
We grow in age.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Our skin is really a record of a life well lived,
because there isn't one body part that I could think
of that reflects our well being as clearly as our skin.
So let's go on this journey together to really understand
what's going on with our skin. Let's unravel the mysteries
happening inside and out. Today we're talking about an inflammatory condition, placksoriasis.
(01:30):
I can't believe this is the last episode of this
season of Skin Queries. We've talked so much about the skin,
whether it's nutrition, extreme temperatures, aging the sun, even my
own husband's story about how stress has affected him physically.
As you know, Nick has placksoriasis and it flares when
he gets stressed. And one of the biggest things I
(01:50):
learned about our journey together is that it's so important
to empathize, be present, and listen.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
So that's what we're going to do today.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Listen because Janelle read Vegas has a story to tell.
It's about what it was like growing up with severe
psoriasis and how she learned to cope through acceptance and
community building. We're also going to hear from doctor Memina
to Regano about placksoriasis and how to treat it. According
to the National Psoriasis Foundation, placsoriasis affects about eight million
(02:20):
people in the United States alone. It's one of the
most common autoimmune diseases out there. First, here's Janelle. She
was diagnosed with psoriasis at just four years old.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think the first place was my cheek, and I
don't have too much of a memory of what that
was like. Once it started to surface on my skin.
I think my mother had to take action very quickly
to meet with a dermatologist, especially because it surfaced around
the time that I was starting school and with it
kind of looking like chicken pox, for example, because of
(02:54):
all the spots, there was always a concern even if
they would say, like, it's not contagious, but they needed
like some sort of medical record to prove.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
That, and so were they able to diagnose you with plaxorisis.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I know at some point they did have to get
like a piece of my skin, and I can't forget
that because it was so painful when they removed like
a chunk of it.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
I still have like the scar on my leg.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
And I think from there it was like a for
sure it's placorisis. And with plaxorisis, it surfaces kind of everywhere,
at least for me, like I got it on my elbows, knees,
and the spots they appeared very small, but they started
to kind of grow in time, and you know, they
get very flaky. So I think with just seeing it visibly,
you can tell what it is, but then having that
(03:42):
biopsy was kind of like confirming its psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Janelle was given a prescription, but having a visible condition
put her in a lot of uncomfortable situations.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I got a lot of attention in elementary school where
my pleasorisis it's also on my scalp as well, so
I had some experiences where a teacher would like pull
me out of class so that I could see the nurse,
and if they didn't have like a letter from the doctor,
they would send me home. So very early on, I
started to have experiences where I just noticed it brought
(04:14):
some sort of attention to me. It wasn't always positive,
and little by little I started to take it very
personally as I started getting older, and you know, growing
up in New York, a lot of times like we
would go to public pools and I was getting ready
to go to a pool. Then when they saw me,
they kind of started to question, you know, was this contagious.
Can she come into the pool and swim with other people?
(04:36):
And I remember my oldest sister getting like upset, and
my sisters would always come to my defense of this
would happen, So I kind of always felt very protected.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
According to a study in the Journal of the American
Academy of Dermatology, sarria sis carries such a huge amount
of stigma, and many people have the misconception that it's
contagious and infectious, which of course it is not. Thankfully,
Janelle had her older sisters to protect her and look
out for her, but that didn't last long. When she
started in middle school, Janelle was left to face that
(05:07):
judgment and stigma on her own.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So I moved to Florida when I was about almost
twelve years old. And I'm living in a state now
where it's hot every day.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Right, But now I'm.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Going to school wearing like short sleeves, capris, maybe a skirt.
And now I'm realizing I'm more conscious, like I'm more
aware of my surroundings. And I would notice how kids
would look at me. I would get a lot of
comments about what is that, or it would be compared
to something, and little by little I started to get
very insecure about my skin.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I think we're so self consciousnessed teeths regardless of what's
going on, you know. And to add that on top
of it, how did that affect your confidence?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I just remember I wanted to the best way I
can explain it is like I want to blend in.
I don't want to draw too much attention to me
where people can see my skin and ask me questions.
And here in Florida, when we experienced a cold front
and I wore like a sweater to school and long pants,
I remember how safe I felt. And that's like the
(06:11):
best way that I can describe how I started to
kind of isolate and hide my skin. It was because
for the first time, like I could sit on my
desk and not not be afraid to show my arms
and things like that. And over the years that affected
my confidence because I started to really hide myself and
isolate and I was hiding something that's a big part
(06:33):
of who I am.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And this insecurity made her miss out on a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Like I would have been someone that I would have
played sports in high school, like I have like this
competitive nature to me, probably would have joined a dance
team I love to dance, but I wouldn't do these
things because I was so afraid of showing my skin
having to wear a certain uniform. And so as the
years were passing and I keep missing out on opportunities,
missing out on things. Eventually, when I finished high school,
(06:59):
I felt like those years kind of passed by and
I didn't.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Experience a lot of the things I would have wanted.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
To got to today. And Janelle is so much more
comfortable in her skin. But funny enough, that did not
come from any improvement to her skin. It was the
determination to change her mindset.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So when I was twenty and I remember I was
getting ready to move. I was moving to New York,
and I was like really looking forward to the summer,
like my skin was clearing up. I was thinking about
all the things I was going to wear, and I
was so excited for that. I was waiting for like
that clear skin moment to like finally show up in
the world as I wanted to.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
And right before I moved, I went through one of.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
The worst flares that I've ever had, and it was
just like such a letdown for me, and I felt
like defeated in a way, like I was really looking
forward to that, and I remember that's kind of when
I had my AHA moment, was because I was just
so devastated by that and I felt defeated and that
I kind of questioned myself, like I reflected on like
the past six years and how I've lived, and I
(08:02):
kind of asked myself, like do I want to continue
living this way?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And I kind of made myself a promise.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I'm like, I can't keep living like this, Like I
can't keep hiding and waiting for the perfect moment to
dress the way that I want to do the things
that I want. So when I moved I started to
kind of challenge myself then to really just take it
as a fresh start and to wear the things that
I want.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
And it was hard.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I had so many triggers, as you can imagine, like
sitting in a train and you know, my legs are
covered in it, my face and people could just stare
at you.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But it was like the.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Best decision because that kind of helped me to then
kind of move forward to where I am today.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It's so inspiring to hear this revelation because Janelle made
the decision to not let her skin hold her back.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Anymore. And what's even more, she now helps.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Others who are going through the same thing by sharing
her experience with psoriasis online. In fact, Janelle has cultivated
a whole community, which, as my next guest will tell you,
is so important when it comes to feeling better.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
I can't wait for you to hear.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
What she has to say right after this break, Welcome
back to skin Qureise. Earlier, Janelle shared her journey with
plaxoriasis and how she learned to feel comfortable within her
own skin even when she's going through a flara. Now
(09:23):
let's get into the science behind soriasis treatments and therapies.
I'd like to introduce doctor Mamina to Regano.
Speaker 6 (09:30):
Hi.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
They're nice to meet you.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I would love for you to kick it off and
introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your practice.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
I am a triple board certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatic pathologist.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
I am based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
I see the full gamut, including medical dermatology and some
cosmetic dermatology as well.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
So let's start with plaquorisis.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Can you explain what that is, and how does that
differ from other types of psoriasis.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yes, well, placksoriasis is probably what we traditionally know as psoriasis,
and it shows up on the skin as these usually
like thick, scaly, pinkish red plaques. They love the elbows
and knees, but they also can certainly occur everywhere on
the body. The scalp is another common area I see
(10:29):
off it on the back, like lower back, like above
the buttock area. It can be pretty debilitating for a
lot of people in terms of its appearance. It can
be itchy, but I think the appearance is what really
affects people the most.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
So is plackariasis.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Is it a symptom of something else or is it
something that stands alone.
Speaker 6 (10:48):
Yeah, I almost look at psoriasis as kind of like
the canary in the coal mine, and so in a way,
and this might sound crazy to people, but in a
way could almost be a blessing if you have psoriasis,
you notice any sort of psoriasis forming on your body,
because it can be an indication that there is internal inflammation.
(11:09):
So internal inflammation that potentially can transform into concerning cardiometabolic
conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and it's almost like
a warning sign when you see zoriasis, like, hey, your
body's inflamed. Let's try to Let's try to do what
we can to decrease that inflammatory load so that bad
(11:30):
things don't happen in the future.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
According to the National Library of Medicine, inflammation is your
body's response to an irritant. It's trying to fight something
foreign in your body. Some sides of inflammation could be redness, swelling, overheating, even.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Loss of function.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Think about when you have a fever or can't smell,
when you have a cold. When you have psoriasis, your
T cells, which is a type of white blood cell,
can become overactive and actually attack.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Your skin by mistake.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Amina says that there are certain things that you can
do to try and decrease that inflammatory load.
Speaker 6 (12:06):
So if somebody has psoriasis, I do some counseling, and
there's like certain lifestyle changes with your diet, exercise. There
are certain supplements that can be helpful when it comes
to diet. The most compelling evidence that is out there
is with a Mediterranean based diet that has been shown
to be helpful for people with psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I'm actually wondering at what point should someone actually go
see a dermatologist. Is seeing a dermatologist the best place
to start.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
I think that if the rash is pretty minimal, if
it's if it's one or two plaques and you are
using an over the counter hydrocortisone it resolves, you know,
and nothing recurs, you can probably lay low. But if
it resolves and it recurs, or if it's not resolving,
or if you're getting more plaques or patches on the body,
(12:57):
definitely something to see a dermatologist. And psoriasis can be
a pretty easy diagnosis to make visually, but there are
some subtleties to it, and if it doesn't fully fit
with psoriasis, oftentimes dermatologists will do a biopsy. And that's
important because there are a lot of other skin conditions
(13:17):
out there not as common, but there are skin conditions
out there that can look like zoriasis, and you would
want to make sure that you have the right diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
What are some of the treatments conventionally that someone can
address their psoriasis?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
So for very mild soriasis, we will all these treatments
are like anti inflammatory, So when it comes to creams,
we do a lot of topical steroid creams. They're anti inflammatory, okay,
and they're fine for intermittent use, but they're not long term.
When people start to get more extensive psoriasis or if
it's just hard to manage, like when it's in the scalp,
it gets to be a pain to put creams or
(13:51):
solutions in the scalp and shampoos consistently, so that's when
systemic therapies will play a big role. There are newer
oral betas which are considered more immunomodulatory, so not immunosuppressive.
So in a way, I like those for people who
need systemic therapy, but they're concerned about like the immune
suppressing effects of some of these systemic agents, so this
(14:13):
one is kind of like a nice like stepping stone.
And then there's the injectibles, which we call biologics, and
these are essentially like antibodies that bind to certain inflammatory
markers or receptors that play a role in psoriasis, and
you know, once again considered immune suppressive. And now there's
(14:34):
just been a whole slew of newer ones that are
I would say, more specific for people with I would
say at least ten percent body surface area or higher
or really bad scalp or palmer plant orsoriasis.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
They would be good candidates.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
How do your patients usually react when you finally diagnose
them and get them on a treatment plan.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
I think people feel hope.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Hmm.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
They are like there's a sense of relief.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
There's a sense of hope, And I think that that's
really important too, to like take that mental burden, that
stress of dealing with the disease on their own, telling
them we got you. There's so many great treatments for it.
Because the stress surrounding the disease can also aggravate the disease.
We do have legitimate studies that show that stress increase psoriasis.
(15:27):
Just having a plan, an action plan, I think relieves
that stress. And then when the patients return and their
psoriasis is better, and like could just see the confidence shift.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, you could see that they're just like.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Beaming with more joy and they're enjoying life more, which
is so fulfilling. But yeah, there's definitely a big mental
aspect when it comes to treating psoriasis.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I know firsthand that stress can be a common trigger
when it comes to psoriasis. In a recent episode about
stress and skin, we talked about how it affects my
husband with his flare ups. So managing stress is actually
such an important part of the treatment plan.
Speaker 6 (16:05):
So just setting aside like sixty seconds and just noticing
your breath for those like sixty seconds, like setting up
timer and just noticing your breath work. And then the
other thing is community, like making sure that you are
in touch with those loved ones around you, staying in
communication with them, whether it's family, friends, but being involved
(16:27):
in community.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
And what would your message be to someone who is
feeling isolated or discouraged because of their skin condition.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I first want to encourage people that it's it's not
their fault, and also want to encourage people that they're
not alone.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
It's so common.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
And there are so many great treatments, even like just
from when I started practicing, over the last ten years,
the amount of new treatment options there are for crisis
has been amazing, And you don't have to live with
this condition on your skin.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Thank you, Mamina, Thank you so much for taking the
time to chat.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Oh my gosh, thank you so much for having me.
I love talking about this.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I love that doctor Mamina mentions the importance of community
and support as we heard it's something that Janelle relied
on when growing up.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
When I was a teenager, I did find a blog
called Sarisis Secrets, and people would anonymously share experiences that
they were having with crisis, for example, like the isolation,
wearing sweaters in the summer, having to like dust off
the scalp flakes that fall on your shoulder. That helped
me so much to know I wasn't doing some of
(17:36):
these things like on my own, that there were other
people out there in the world that were experiencing the
same thing and also dealing with it in the same way.
I would definitely say that's top is really reaching out
and talking about what you're experiencing and getting help if needed,
and to really give yourself grace in this journey because
(17:57):
it is difficult. Flares can really in a way impact
you a lot, not just the physical but mentally, So
it's so important to be graceful with yourself while you're
in the process of figuring out what medication works for you,
what lifestyle is going to look like.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
I love this advice.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
I'm sure that a lot of people are going to
find that so helpful. Well, that is a wrap on
this season of skin Queries. Thank you so much for
joining me throughout all these episodes. I don't know about you,
but I've learned so much so to really feel the
most confident and at home in my skin, it's essential
(18:37):
first to be present and accept everything that is happening
to it. But that doesn't mean we are left to
our own devices. On the contrary, we have so many
resources to help our skin glow and be the best
it can be. As always, it's important to care for
our bodies inside and out.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
It means eat.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Well, take care of ourselves, find resources to relax, find
peace and enjoy. But if there's something specific that our
skin is calling for attention, never hesitate to reach out
and ask for help. Follow your intuition, be your own
advocate so you can feel your best, whatever that means
for you. Skin Queries is hosted by myself Nicole Berry,
(19:19):
An executive produced by Evon Sheehan.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Our senior producer is Tory Weldon.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Our junior producer is reem Al mcgrabi, with help from
Austin Johnson. The show is mixed and features original music
by Sam Sagan. The entire first season of skin Queries
is now available to binge on America's number one podcast network,
iHeart Listen in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Wherever you get your podcasts, and we'd
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Love to know what you think, so make sure to
leave a review until next time.
Host
Nicole Berrie
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