Luton local joins National Psoriasis Awareness Campaign
Photos featuring Luton local Suzella Palmer have been released as part of Psoriasis UK’s national awareness campaign, showing how psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can affect people throughout their lives.
The images were taken as part of this year’s Psoriasis Awareness Week, which began on World Psoriasis Day (Thursday 29 October) and explored the theme of age. Featuring children, teenagers, adults and older people, the new images support the charity’s refreshed identity following its recent name change to Psoriasis UK.
Suzella, who stars in the campaign, is currently on immunosuppressants to manage her psoriasis. Seen in the photos chatting to friends and browsing in a bookstore, Suzella took part in the photoshoot to help raise awareness, something she says there is a ‘currently a lack of’.
About her experience with psoriasis, Suzella said: “It’s something I’m always aware of. In the summer I avoid wearing shorts because I don’t want people looking at me, even though they say they understand. It does affect my wellbeing and self-esteem. At the same time, I am gradually becoming more confident as I get older, and I’m starting to care less about what people think. It can be a real rollercoaster of emotions.”
Other photos show participants living their ‘daily lives’ with psoriasis, including enjoying coffee, shopping and walking in nature. The images were shared widely this week to mark Psoriasis Awareness Week, alongside stories from some of the photoshoot participants.
Psoriasis UK Deputy Chief Executive Laura Stevenson said:
“Psoriasis Awareness Week is a very important time of year in which we can focus on specific aspects of the condition. This year's theme is age, shining a much-needed spotlight on the ways psoriasis may affect a person throughout their life.
“Throughout the campaign, we'll be sharing images from our most recent photoshoot showing how people at every age, like Suzella, can continue to live their lives with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. While it may seem small, this representation shows that psoriasis is just one part of someone’s story. It proves that it does not have to stand in the way of living a happy, active life.”