Psoriasis in the UAE: My Autoimmune Healing Journey | Auraone Wellness
- Rawan Chehab
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Did You Know I Live With Psoriasis?
I don’t share this for sympathy. I share it for truth.
I live with an autoimmune disease called Psoriasis.
It began when I was 15 years old — shortly after a trauma my nervous system didn’t know how to process.
Psoriasis is not “just dry skin.” It is a chronic autoimmune condition where the immune system accelerates skin cell production, creating inflamed, red, flaky patches that can itch, crack, and sometimes bleed.
Globally, psoriasis affects approximately 2–3% of the population — over 125 million people worldwide. In the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, prevalence estimates range between 1–5%, with many cases unspoken due to stigma.
And stigma is something I know well.
When Trauma Entered My Body
It started small:
Around my nose
Inside my ear
Above my eyelid
Then it spread.
To my chins.
My elbows.
My knees.
My ankles.
Red. Inflamed. Itchy. Flaky.
At 15, I didn’t understand that trauma can live inside the body. Today, science confirms that chronic stress dysregulates the immune system and contributes to inflammatory conditions — including psoriasis.
The body keeps score.
Mine chose my skin to speak.
23 Doctors — And a Medication That Nearly Killed Me
I went to over 23 doctors.
Creams. Steroids. Elimination diets.
At one point, I was prescribed a systemic chemotherapy-class immunosuppressant — sometimes used in severe autoimmune cases.
My body reacted severely.
I went into a three-day coma.
I lost bladder control.
I woke up frightened and humbled.
That was the moment I realized: aggressively suppressing my immune system was not my path.
Today, there are biologic injections that can reduce psoriasis symptoms by 75–90% in many patients. For some, they are life-changing. But they come with potential risks, including serious infections and immune suppression. After my experience, I chose to focus on regulation instead of suppression.
The Day Shame Took Over
Standing in line at a bank, a woman stared at my ankle.
Dry. Flaky. Inflamed.
She looked at it like I was contagious.
I turned calmly and asked, “What are you looking at?”
She said, “What the hell is that?”
That night, I drove to my parents’ mountain house. I ran a bath with Epsom salts and scrubbed my skin until it burned. I cried and asked God:
Why me?
I’ve been kind. I’ve been good.
Why this burden?
After that, I covered myself.
No skirts.
No short sleeves.
Then psoriasis appeared on the palms of my hands.
One day, a close friend grabbed my hand in greeting. She looked down — and pulled her hand away.
That pain stayed with me.
Living With Psoriasis in the UAE
Living with psoriasis in the Gulf region brings unique challenges.
Extreme Heat & Indoor Living
Living with Psoriasis In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, summer temperatures exceed 45°C. We live indoors. We rely on air conditioning. We avoid midday sun.
Moderate sunlight exposure can improve psoriasis in many individuals due to UVB’s regulatory effects and Vitamin D production. Yet Vitamin D deficiency is common in the region — even with year-round sun.
Low Vitamin D is linked to immune dysregulation.
Humidity & Sweat
Humidity is one of my biggest triggers.
Sweat trapped under clothing, combined with heat and friction, worsens inflammation — especially on elbows, knees, ankles, and skin folds.
Humidity is my skin’s worst enemy.
The Confidence Question
People ask me:
“How are you so confident at the beach?”
“You don’t have a toned body.”
“Your skin isn’t perfect.”
My answer?
Things could be worse.
Perspective is powerful medicine.
I could be hospitalized. I could be immobile. I could be fighting something heavier.
Confidence was never taken from me — even when my skin was inflamed.
Because beauty was never my skin.
The Global Search for Answers
I traveled to over 80 destinations.
India.
Sri Lanka.
The Philippines.
Bali
.
One healer told me to use bird droppings. (It burned intensely.)
A healer in Bali told me it was my spleen.
Others eliminated chicken, tuna, eggs, tomatoes — everything I loved.
Everyone had certainty.
Everyone contradicted the last.
Eventually, I stopped searching outside myself.
The Gut–Stress–Skin Connection
Research shows psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition. Severe cases are associated with increased cardiovascular risk due to chronic inflammation.
For me, psoriasis is directly linked to:
Stress
Nervous system dysregulation
Gut imbalance
When I am emotionally inflamed, my skin follows.
When my gut is irritated, my skin reacts.
It became my biofeedback system.
I Became a Nutritionist to Heal Myself
I studied nutrition as part of my AuraOne Wellness journey.
I learned that for my body:
Gluten-free works.
Dairy-free helps.
Root vegetables trigger flare-ups.
But I also realized something liberating:
I love food.
And life is meant to be enjoyed.
Healing is not meant to become another prison of perfection.
How I Manage My Psoriasis Today (Without Prescription Medication)
Today, I do not use prescription medication for my psoriasis. That is a personal decision based on my experience — not medical advice.
Instead, I regulate my nervous system daily.
Walking in Natural Sunlight
Morning walks regulate cortisol and support Vitamin D production.
Sound Healing
Frequency shifts my body from fight-or-flight into parasympathetic rest.
Crystal Bed Therapy
Deep relaxation reduces internal stress load.
Red Light Therapy
Supports cellular repair and reduces inflammation.
Himalayan Salt Baths & Sea Dips
Magnesium and salt water soothe flare-ups naturally.
Breathwork & Meditation
Calming the vagus nerve lowers inflammatory responses.
7–8 Hours of Sleep
Sleep reduces inflammatory markers. It is non-negotiable.
Hydration & Targeted Supplements
Supporting gut health and cellular hydration makes a visible difference.
Natural Coconut Oil
I keep skincare simple. No harsh chemicals. Just barrier support.
What Psoriasis Taught Me
Psoriasis is not my weakness.
It taught me:
Emotional regulation
Nervous system safety
Stress awareness
Perspective
Compassion
It forced me to listen.
And today, I teach women something radical:
You are not your skin.
You are not your diagnosis.
You are not your flare.
You are your resilience.
If You Are Struggling in Silence
If you are in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah — hiding your skin or feeling ashamed of your body — I want you to know:
You are not alone.
Autoimmune conditions are rising globally. Chronic stress is normalized in high-performance environments like ours.
Your body is not attacking you.
It is communicating.
And healing begins the moment we stop asking “Why me?”
And start asking, “What does my body need to feel safe?”
Comments