Takieyah’s psoriasis journey from isolation to inspiration | Takeda Stories
Takieyah’s psoriasis journey from isolation to inspiration
This article features real patients sharing their personal experiences and is available to the public for disease awareness only. Individual experiences may vary. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice. This article is developed by Takeda. Speakers have received compensation from Takeda for their participation.
Watch the 5-minute video to see Takieyah’s story of her inspirational journey from hiding to taking center stage
Takieyah started working as a fashion model soon after high school, but in 2016, she began experiencing symptoms of psoriasis. In her case, symptoms included her hair “falling out... everywhere,” she says.
"When psoriasis came, I just felt the need to start hiding,” she adds. And for a few years, that’s what she did, while believing she was destined to be alone due to her condition.
Dermatologist Warren Winkelman, M.D., Ph.D., who leads the Takeda Global Medical Affairs team for Dermatology, says people living with psoriasis can experience feelings of social isolation, indignity and damage caused by stigma often associated with their skin disease.
“This is not just a medical condition,” he says. “The psychosocial impact of psoriasis holds many patients back from leading fulfilling lives, and in Takieyah’s case, from pursuing professional goals and dreams.”
Given Takeda’s legacy of innovating on behalf of patients, Dr. Winkelman adds that “we seek to understand the real-world impacts of psoriasis for people living with the disease beyond the clinical signs and symptoms. These include mental health effects and social isolation.”
Ultimately, Takieyah found the support she needed. “When I started telling people what I had, I had a pretty good response,” she says.
She is back on the runway, relishing her role as wife, mother and advocate for others like her who are living with psoriasis.
“I didn't know that there was a whole community of people already out there like me. And being the voice for not just yourself, but other people is healing,” she says.
