I had been intermittently suffering from psoriasis for years without knowing what it was. Then, in 2011, I relocated from Atlanta to New York. The stress of moving triggered all the symptoms of my psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) simultaneously, making it easy to diagnose.
At the time, I was new to my job at a prestigious law firm. I had lesions on the tops of both feet and plantar psoriasis on the soles. Other affected areas were flaring up, but I could easily cover those with clothing.
I was terrified that others would see my lesions, and I didn’t even want to look at them myself. I had just bought new clothes for work, including suits with skirts. If that wasn’t enough, my PsA was causing deformities in my feet, and my physician recommended that I wear sneakers!
Despite all this, here’s how I managed to navigate the situation while maintaining my professional dignity.
1.Be Honest About Your Condition
I was very nervous about discussing my condition openly, especially as a new employee and a southern transplant who already stood out.
As it turned out, my human resources supervisor had been living with psoriasis since she was a teenager! She truly understood what I was going through. She reassured me that I could wear any footwear my doctor recommended and offered to handle any questions about it on my behalf.
While I can’t promise it will be this easy for you, having someone in authority in your corner can be immensely helpful.
2. Opt for a Lighter Color Palette for Affected Areas
Dealing with flakes is never fun, is it? If you regularly manage this issue, your closet might lack navy blue or black clothing.
Even though black is a staple color in New York, there were times I chose medium gray during the autumn and winter. This helped minimize the visibility of flakes on my clothes.
Sometimes, the scalp may be the only affected area. For men, lighter dress shirts, and for women, lighter blouses, can be incredibly helpful.
3. Use Colored Opaque Tights to Conceal Spots and Red Patches
In the spring and summer, I often wore skirt suits and dresses. Colored tights became my best friends! I bought them in every shade. They helped me look more polished and covered my lesions effectively, especially when paired with loafers or flats.
4. Skip Heels and Dress Shoes if You Have Plantar Psoriasis
Men, as long as your footwear is comfortable, feel free to keep it. Ladies, I know this may not be what you want to hear, but tight shoes and high heels can aggravate plantar psoriasis. Skin irritation encourages plaque formation.
If you can’t get permission to wear sneakers during a flare-up, consider keeping a pair of cozy slippers under your desk to wear while seated.