How a Personal Struggle Sparked a Movement for Psoriasis Awareness

This is the second story in our three-part series honoring Psoriasis Action Month. Today, we’re highlighting Ayesha Patrick’s journey, showing how her personal struggles led to powerful advocacy for women of color living with psoriasis.

Ayesha has lived with psoriasis for as long as she can remember, but for much of her life she didn’t know it had a name. Growing up, her mother called the patches that appeared on her and her twin sister’s skin in winter “winter itch,” and the flaking on their scalps “growing dandruff.” It wasn’t until college, when she began seeing doctors on her own, that Ayesha learned she had psoriasis. At first, her symptoms were mild and manageable. That changed dramatically at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she experienced a severe flare that introduced her to multiple forms of the disease all at once — including plaque, guttate and inverse psoriasis.

Because she couldn’t see her dermatologist in person, Ayesha relied on virtual visits, often feeling vulnerable as she showed her skin over video. She describes her scalp psoriasis during this time as especially devastating, with constant, unstoppable flaking and inflammation. This major flare changed her entire outlook and helped her better understand the full impact of psoriasis.

Ayesha emphasizes that education — both within the Black community and the medical community — is critical. Many people go undiagnosed for years, mistaking psoriasis for dry skin or other conditions like ringworm. She points out that psoriasis looks different on skin of color, appearing purplish or grayish rather than red, yet medical training often lacks images that reflect these differences. This gap in education leads to misdiagnosis and delayed care.

One of Ayesha’s most difficult experiences came when a former dermatologist prescribed a medicated shampoo that required daily or near-daily hair washing. As a Black woman with natural, coily hair, this regimen was unrealistic and ultimately caused her hair to fall out. That painful moment, especially with her daughter watching, pushed her toward advocacy. She founded Sistas with Psoriasis, now The PsoriaSis Collective, to support other women of color with the condition.

Through her work with the National Psoriasis Foundation, Ayesha found resources, mentorship and a platform for advocacy. She now provides that same support to others, helping connect people to reliable information and care. Her message to anyone struggling is clear: trust yourself, seek a formal diagnosis from a dermatologist, and know that your experiences and feelings are valid. If a provider dismisses your concerns, it’s OK to find another who listens and understands.