{"id":2060,"date":"2025-06-05T16:30:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radiancemag.co.uk\/?p=2060"},"modified":"2025-06-06T13:22:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T12:22:44","slug":"it-is-a-part-of-who-i-am-but-i-am-so-much-more-than-that-indias-psoriasis-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/radiancemag\/2025\/06\/05\/it-is-a-part-of-who-i-am-but-i-am-so-much-more-than-that-indias-psoriasis-story\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It is a part of who I am, but I am so much more than that’: India’s psoriasis story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From being called a \u2018spotted elephant\u2019 and receiving death threats, this young woman found peace with her rare case of psoriasis and arthritis. She created a platform on social media to spread awareness about her tough journey with the hope to educate others.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

India Rosa, 26, first noticed spots on the back of her legs when she was 18. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought it was just bug bites. And then it spread to my face and my ears. So, I went and saw a dermatologist and they told me it was psoriasis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s psoriasis began only on her face and torso but then spread to the rest of her body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast year I was covered from head to toe and also as of last year I developed inverse psoriasis and plaque psoriasis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to India, guttate psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis that looks like tiny dots all over her body. Plaque psoriasis is big patches that are concentrated in the elbows and knees and inverse psoriasis is usually found under your armpits and breasts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt 18, you’re still a teenager. You’re in college and you’re trying to go out and have fun with your friends and party.\u201d She says. \u201cIt kind of stinks when you have bright red dots all over your whole face and you’re like, ” my god, people are looking at me. People think I’m ugly.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

India began treating it with topical steroids, lotions and creams, however they eventually stopped working. She started mixing different treatments together when you are not supposed to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was trying literally anything and everything. Although I’ve never done injections or pills, because of the side effects that they can cause. I’m super sensitive to meds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c Last year, I stopped all of the steroids after breaking out really badly and started a super strict anti-inflammatory diet and I did UVB laser therapy in a clinic where they give you medical burns and they burn it off basically,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more:<\/strong> Flare ups? Flaky skin? We don’t mind – #GetYourSkinOut – Radiance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\u2019s psoriasis gets a lot better in the sunny summer months and gets worse in the dry, dark winter, this is quite common with psoriasis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor my skincare I use special creams and salicylic acid for my face and the rest of my body. if I’m having a really bad flare, I’ll do an Epsom salt bath. That’s really helpful.  I always use thick moisturizers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of India\u2019s long journey with psoriasis she also developed arthritis four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving psoriasis is one thing, I just have the itchy scaly patches, but the arthritis is another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy right hip will hurt really bad and it sends radiating pain down my entire leg. I get super exhausted and I can’t sleep because I’m in pain and Tylenol or anything doesn’t really work. That\u2019s really hard,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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@indias_psoriasis on IG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When she was pregnant at 21, they put her pain down to her pregnancy but postpartum they officially diagnosed her with arthritis. India says that many people also have psoriasis, often suffer with psoriatic arthritis, so the two often go hand in hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cI am itchy sometimes, but for me, it\u2019s more that my skin gets quite raw and cracks open. It feels like you have a cut. In the mornings my hands and hips are a bit sore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen it rains andis cold  it gets really bad. It is bone deep aching. It feels like somebody has hit me with a hammer pretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: <\/strong>What it’s like to live with Psoriasis and Eczema – Radiance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Struggling with this for so many years India has learned to not let her skin affect her but it\u2019s been a long process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetween 18 and 22, it was tough, from 23 I don\u2019t love it, but I\u2019ve realised it’s not the end of the world,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast year though was the absolute worst it has ever been.\u201d says India.\u201c Even worse than when I was 18 and first diagnosed. Navigating that definitely took a toll on my mental state. I didn’t even want to leave the house. I felt awful. I was so ashamed and embarrassed of myself. It was bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by BANISH (@banishacnescars)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n