Psoriasis patients buoyed by new treatments

Andrew Gosses daily battle with psoriasis came to a breaking point when he awoke one morning eight years ago.

Keith Gosse/The Telegram

Andrew Gosses life changed dramatically with the development of new treatments for psoriasis, a disease he has suffered since age 17.

He awoke with his pyjamas and socks stuck to him due to the bleeding and oozing from the lesions that covered much of his body.

It had been another restless night of uncontrollable itching and pain, and the strength hed always mustered to clean himself up, apply ointments and prepare for the day ahead failed him.

At 34 years old, I woke up one morning and my wife knew there was something extra wrong. She has always known me with psoriasis. She was always there, very supportive, and I was slumped over on the bed, Gosse said.

She asked what was wrong. I turned around in tears and I said, Im sick of being alive. I was done.

Ive never really contemplated suicide, but there are so many people in this country who have committed suicide because of psoriasis.

According to the Living Well With Psoriasis website, psoriasis is a skin disorder in which skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. As cells reach the skins surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, red patches called plaques to develop. These plaques are often covered with silvery-white scales.

Psoriasis affects about one million people in Canada. It is a chronic, autoimmune condition, which means the bodys immune system isnt responding as it should to healthy body tissue.

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Psoriasis patients buoyed by new treatments