A woman has shared how cruel trolls have likened her to a snake thanks to her skin condition – which she has now found a ‘game-changing’ £12 product to help cure.
Ellena George has suffered from psoriasis since she was a child and it still impacts her life today in various ways, from colours she can wear to daily pain and even how she styled her hair on her wedding day.
The 38-year-old content creator says her condition, which impacts 1.1 million people in the UK, affects her “confidence, sleep, and everyday life” – particularly when people online are rude about it.
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“I was called a snake because of my shedding skin,” Ellena, who is from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, told creatorzine.com.
“Another person said I looked like a ghost because the plaques are white.”
Ellena first noticed something wasn’t right with her skin when she was just 10 years old.
She said: “I remember seeing flakes on my school jumper and constantly feeling itchy, especially around my scalp.
“At that age, it was really embarrassing. I was always worried other people would notice, and I didn’t really understand what was happening.”
She was diagnosed with psoriasis, a condition that causes flaky patches of skin which form scales, and can develop on the body and even on the scalp.
Ellena regularly posts about her experience with psoriasis to her 58,000 followers, and one video, which has garnered 13.3m views, resonated with people.
Showcasing her ‘scaly’ skin, Ellena revealed she “hates” psoriasis, and in the comments people were quick to ask for her advice, share their own journeys and offer their own tips for dealing with symptoms.
Psoriasis has shaped the way Ellena lives, even down to her sense of style.
She added: “You would very rarely see me in dark colours, especially black.
“I actually love wearing black, but it’s just a no-go for me because it makes any flaking so much more noticeable.
“That really affects my confidence.”
Ellena’s psoriasis also led to other health issues, including developing arthritis, which leaves her with pain, swelling, and stiffness in her joints and is “another layer of physical pain and struggle” for the mum-of-three.
Her worst flare-ups produce “very dry, flakey and white scales” on her skin, something she’s very conscious about and has had to adapt to.
She said: “Even on my wedding day, I wanted to wear my hair up, but I couldn’t.
“As a mum and content creator, flare-ups and joint pain continue to affect my confidence, sleep, and everyday life.
“Living with scalp psoriasis has been something I’ve struggled with for years, and it’s often affected my confidence more than people realise.”
Ellena’s psoriasis follows a familiar pattern with flakes and scales and she’s noticed the severity often depends on the season.
Ellena says her condition is much harder to manage in the cold months, while warmer climates leave her in less pain.
She added: “Winter is definitely the worst for me.
“I have to use treatments much more frequently.
“My scalp needs a lot more attention, and it becomes something I have to actively think about every day.”
“When I go to hot countries, my psoriasis calms down significantly.
“I think the increased sunlight plays a big role.
“Vitamin D supplements don’t seem to have the same effect for me as natural sunlight does.”
Many things, including stress, can trigger psoriasis flare-ups, which Ellena says is definitely true for her.
She said: “When life feels overwhelming, my skin often reflects that.
“It’s frustrating, because psoriasis isn’t just physical, it responds to what’s going on mentally and emotionally too.”
Finding products that genuinely help has been a process of trial and error, but Ellena says she has recently seen a clear improvement after using a £12 shampoo.
She added: “Over time, I’ve tried medicated shampoos, topical creams, prescribed lotions, and three different types of biologics, but none have worked,
“I recently tried Polytar, and it has really helped me.
“I’ve noticed a difference since using it.
“I also use olive oil, which I massage into my scalp and leave on overnight.
“It’s not the easiest to wash out, but using Polytar afterwards helps strip it out properly.
“Together, that routine has really reduced the itching and flaking and made my scalp feel much more manageable.”
Polytar is a coal tar shampoo, with proven anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and exfoliating properties and is clinically proven to help treat psoriasis as well as other scalp conditions like seborrhoeic dermatitis, eczema, dandruff, flaking, and itching.
Ellena is careful to balance treatment with hair health, particularly because her hair is bleached.
She said: “I usually wash my hair twice a week.
“One of those washes includes Polytar, and I always follow with conditioner.
“Because medicated shampoos can strip colour, I apply them just to my scalp and use a colour-safe shampoo on the rest of my hair.
“It’s all about finding that balance between treating my psoriasis and keeping my hair healthy.”
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