Recently I had the pleasure of attending the National Psoriasis Foundation & LEO Pharm Psoriasis Social Media summit in New York. I loved being apart of this roundtable with fellow #psobloggers and learning new ways to enhance my blog, develop content ideas, understand Twitter more in depth and so much more.

Full disclosure: the psoriasis social media summit was hosted by LEO and I received a stipend for my time, evaluation and feedback on information presenting during the meeting. All opinions expressed here about the summit or LEO program or products are my own.

Here are my thoughts on what being at the summit meant to:

  • Having a platform to speak about how psoriasis affects me is important to me.
  • It’s being a part of a well-respected organization like the National Psoriasis Foundation and being a part of that community to help those newly diagnosed and those currently .
  • It gives me a bigger opportunity to meet more people who have psoriasis and how they deal with it.
  • I feel honored to be a part of this summit because I feel like I have a voice and people want to listen to what I have to say. It’s empowering.

You normally don’t hear people associate the word psoriasis and happy in the same sentence, but here I will.

  • It makes me happy to have psoriasis because I want people to feel as confident as I am with my psoriasis.
  • I have taught even my husband and close friends about psoriasis and what it means to me and how they can help.
  • I have given doctors recommendations to friends who thought there was no hope.
  • You’re a part of a club that no one wants to be a part of, but you have the support you need because of these people going through the same experiences.
  • I have also had the opportunity raise money for the NPF through Walk for the Cure events.
  • I have had the opportunity to contribute to articles for Everyday Health here, here and here, Makeup.com, Webmd, collaborate with fellow psoriasis blogger Joni Reece Just a Girl with Spots and be featured in Health Monitor Magazine.
  • In these ways I’m reaching more people than I ever thought I could reach. If even just one person takes a tad bit of knowledge or hope from what I’ve written, then I’ve accomplished my goal. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

Check out my fellow #psoblogger Lori-Ann Holbrook’s recap on the event here and my other blogger friends:

A Spot of Hope by Jaime Lyn Moy

Being Me in My Own Skin by Alisha Bridges

It’s Just a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life by Julie Cerrone

Just a Girl With Spots by Joni Reece

Overcoming Psoriasis by Todd Bello

Seeing Pspots by Brittany Ineson

I don’t know why I have psoriasis and I wont ever know. But to feel like you’re doing something right when you have psoriasis is a very powerful feeling. Hope you’ve found some hope here. Leave your thoughts below, I’d love to hear how you are managing your psoriasis. Let’s make it a positive experience!