Sometimes I feel like my psoriasis is consuming my life. It feeds my depression and makes me wish I could melt away into my surroundings and not have to be seen.

I spend most of my free time trying to find means to tame or cure it and attempting the suggestions of others but nothing I've tried seems to work. All I know is I feel hideous. Like a scaly monster that shouldn't be loved. But somehow I am? I have a loving boyfriend who claims I'm beautiful but when I look in the mirror all I can see are red blotches and scales. Its just become like a thousand times worse the past year and I just want it to at least go back to the way it was.

I know its bad to scratch, it only irritates it more but I'm SO ITCHY. I'm constantly hearing people scold me for scratching but they just don't understand how much it really itches. Imagine a mosquito bite...then imagine it dries out and becomes a sore and that sore has the same itch as the mosquito bite and it hurts even when you leave it alone. It stings to shower. Which is ... I don't know... depressing. I used to love the feeling of showers - being soapy and clean.

It used to just be a small patch on my head and a spot on my calf...now its my entire scalp and my fore arms and both of my calves, my breasts and my hips. I feel like I'm turning into a lizard woman. I feel ugly.

I'm sorry I just had to tell someone in hopes that there might be someone out there who understands. Sometimes I feel like I'm being overly sensitive to it... but with the outbreak suddenly overwhelming my entire body I can't help but feel...melancholic sometimes.

Has anyone actually had any luck with treatments?

I've tried cutting dairy out of my diet, various creams and lotions but so far no relief. I've heard about using tanning beds for the U.V. light and detoxes. Any luck with those?