I was a sporty teenager who liked nothing better than running around a hockey pitch or netball court. So when I was 16 and started complaining about feeling unwell in 1980, I was dismissed as being a bit of a hypochondriac.

It was just over 4 years go I got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.  It was a shock, I did not know what was happening.  I was a fit person worked since I was 17 and just lost a computer contract and that weekend my symptoms started.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis a year after my youngest child was born,25 years ago. I had never heard of the condition, never had psoriasis before. I had been sent to a skin specialist because I had a really itch, flaky scalp.

Like most people I probably had PsA without knowing it for years. About ten years ago I had a very bad knee but just put it down to being an injury as I used to be in the building trade. This would flare up from time to time.

I started getting psoriasis in my late teens.  My scalp was a mess and I underwent the usual multitude of skin scrapes, lotions and potions before getting a definitive diagnosis. 

After having gone through a stressful time from aged 10 to 14 years, when my family moved and I had to go to 3 new schools, I developed a facial rash and scaly scalp. I had never had skin problems before, although my mum said that I had dry, scaly ears as a baby!

I had scalp psoriasis as a teenager which was put down to hormones, I was given shampoos and creams but being a typical teen I was too lazy to keep up the scalp applications. I also began to get mild skin patches but not enough to worry me.

Shortly after the birth of my daughter I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  Very soon after this diagnosis I began to notice my finger nails looked different. Clippings after clippings were sent away to check for fungal infections and were clear.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis when I was 17, 8 years ago. I had just started the depo birth control shot. A few days later I developed a dime sized spot on my thigh. I didn't think anything of it, until it grew in size and other spots appeared. I went to the doctor thinking I was having a reaction to the shot.

I first had Psoriasis when I was about 12 years old, it appeared under my eyes and my elbows.