Posted Selfie with Skin Condition Flare Up

This article is from Health Fitness and is titled “This Woman Posted a Selfie When Her Skin Condition Was Flaring Up to Make a Powerful Point”. This powerful article written by Samantha Lauriello and it talks about the story of Aimee Gooden who has the autoimmune disease psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes dry, itchy patches on the skin. Severity of cases vary from person to person. Aimee had a more severe cause as it completely changed her life. Her face and body would become covered with blotchy red spots and it was a very embarrassing and morally defeating task that left her cooped up in her mother’s home for weeks. Then something changed for her. She stopped letting the disease define her and she embraced who she is. She started posting pictures of herself on social media, opening up about her struggle with the disease. It was tough at first, but then a large pouring of support came her way from people of all walks of life. This is a terrific feel good story that talks about a person’s personal triumph in an inner battle with oneself, a look into psoriasis and what it entails, and the good that is also out their in other people to lift someone else up that they may not even know.

This article is a terrific article for a health enhancement class. Many different questions can arise from this article. Questions could vary from specifics about psoriasis and what this autoimmune disease is like, how you get it, how to treat it, etc. Questions also could come from a more personal and mental health related basis on how to deal with these sort of obstacles that arise in life and what to do when you are feeling defeated, alone, and stuck. A lot of good could come from this article.

A strategy I think I would like to do is start the class off with ‘independent reading’ so they can really dive into this article and let it connect and cause some emotional movement to them on a personal basis. After reading this article independently, I would love to hear from my students about what they thought about the article, as well as answer any questions they may have. I also would love to talk about mental health and learning how to deal with negative self-images. After our discussion I would have my students right a quick paper regarding self-image problems and different coping mechanisms, outlets, help, etc. they could turn to when dealing.

This news story would fall under the following health enhancement content standards:

4. Analyze how environmental factors and personal health are interrelated;

5. Analyze how genetics and family history can impact personal health;

6. Compare and contrast ways to advocate for safe and healthy school and community environments to promote personal health;

15. Explain the influence of personal values and beliefs on individual health practices and behaviors;

18. Evaluate the effect of media on personal and family health;