Loving the skin you’re in

Tips to boost your self-esteem, even when you're not feeling it.

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In a nutshell Hello again, Wellness Wire friends! Today we'll be chatting with Instagram and TikTok personality Victoria Voos, aka @flyforaginger. She's a plus-size fashion blogger and "psoriasis warrior" who shares her journey online — and now, with us! Read on to hear what she has to say about mental health, self-confidence, and community building. After the Q&A, we'll also be tackling: • Don't let your chronic condition stop you from being your best self • A journal to boost your confidence, made for people who don't journal • How to decide between retinol and other retinoids • 3 simple tricks that could relieve your back pain Cheers, Caroline Parrish Newsletter Intern, Healthline

Written by Caroline Parrish August 11, 2023 • 5 min read

One of Healthline's editorial interns, Kate Jensen, sat down to talk with Victoria Voos about her journey with psoriasis, self-confidence, and building community. Read the interview highlights below and the full article here. *This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: I wanted to start just by asking for a little bit of background on your diagnosis. What was your perspective on psoriasis at the time? A: I definitely had not heard of it before. When I got diagnosed, it was because I had this bump on the top of my left foot that was very, very painful, and the only thing that helped was a steroid shot. From then, it was diagnosis after diagnosis of all these different things. It was like, "Oh, you have insulin resistance." "Oh, you have psoriasis." "Oh, you have psoriatic arthritis." "Oh, you have PCOS." So, it was kind of a crazy-pants time. I took NSAIDs [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] for the joint pain, and then that gave me stomach ulcers. It was one thing after another. Probably the most upsetting part of it was learning that … you have to manage [psoriasis] the rest of your life. It might get better, but you might also have flare-ups. So that began a really long journey of discovering what medications worked and paying lots of money to dermatologists for all sorts of different creams, shots, pills. Q: Has that affected the way you see yourself [...] or your self-confidence? A: I think it actually helped a little bit. Finding things that help relieve the symptoms on my face made me appreciate that the psoriasis was mostly in spots that were covered. I don't think I would appreciate my skin as much as I do now if it hadn't gotten so bad. I also found some really great communities online by talking about psoriasis and plus-size fashion on social media. You find your people who are going through similar things, and we're all talking about empowerment and awareness of what we're all going through. Q: I wanted to know if there's anything else you'd like readers to know about your experience in general [...] or anything we've talked about today? A: I think it's important to remember that you just don't know what people are going through. It's very possible that a lot of [psoriasis] is not [visible]. What I have right now is under my clothes and inflammation within my body, which causes a lot of joint pain. That's the biggest thing I would want to scream from the rooftops. Just be kind. You never know what people are going through. To read more psoriasis-specific content, subscribe to our psoriasis newsletter here. To find your own online psoriasis community, check out Bezzy Psoriasis. And don't forget to rate this interview on the smiley scale at the end of this email!

great finds Editor faves with health perks       Intelligent Change The Five Minute Journal Journaling has been linked to decreased stress, as well as improved overall well-being. If you want to improve your self-confidence but don't know where to start, journaling could be a good first step. For those of us who are too busy to keep up with a meticulous journal day to day, there's the Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change. It's focused on the positive aspects of life and has enough structure to ensure you'll always have something to write about, with plenty of weekly challenges, morning gratitude prompts, and opportunities for self-reflection. Shop now Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health.

Friday Kick Start Saying "goodbye" to comparison and "hello" to confidence Self-esteem is a tough nut to crack, as anyone who's ever gone to middle school can attest. And if you live with a health condition that makes day-to-day life difficult, it can be an even greater challenge not to compare yourself to others. A 2019 study found that young adults with chronic diseases are likely to experience detriments to their self-esteem as a direct result of their condition. So, what can you do to combat, as Teddy Roosevelt called comparison, "the thief of joy?" Put your physical health first. If you have a condition that affects your daily physical well-being, it's important to find the right treatment, if you can. Avoiding triggers that could worsen your condition is also key. To have a healthy self-image, it's imperative that you take care of your body. Positive self-talk goes a long way. Being gentle with yourself, even when you don't feel like the statements are true, can boost your emotional well-being and self-esteem. Consider trying these affirmations, which were written for people with psoriasis but could be great for everyone, no matter what condition(s) they live with. Confidence isn't all or nothing. Being self-confident isn't black and white. Pick one aspect to focus on at a time, which can make the task less daunting. Also note that confidence comes and goes; it will never remain completely constant. It's like strengthening a muscle – you need to repeat the action to get stronger! More on developing your self-confidence: • 6 tips to help you trust yourself • How to enjoy the little things • Body positivity mantras to live by

health stories you need What we're reading next 🧠 Potential benefits of a social media break. Check out some possible benefits of a social media cleanse and 30 stimulating things to do instead! 🔙 3 simple stretches to help relieve back pain. Tired of constant aches and pains? Try these three easy stretches to give your back a break. 💆 Retinol vs. retinoids. Retinol has long been touted as an anti-aging cheat code. But would retinoids be a better choice? Learn which one is right for you in our guide. 🌴 Relaxation is a skill. Read about how to teach your body and mind to relax, even when you don't have the luxury of sitting by the ocean.

Thanks for hanging out with me on my last day working for Healthline this summer! Morgan will be back with you on Friday. Stay healthy, my friends.

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