When Dayna Pham was diagnosed with severe psoriasis at 21, the hardest part wasn't the plaques. It was the staring, the dating she stopped doing, and the version of herself she had to grieve. A few years later, on her first day of medical school, psoriatic arthritis arrived too. Now a University of Chicago med student, NPF advocate, and mentor for chronically ill students, Dayna talks candidly about the internal stigma that follows you even when no one's watching, the full-time job of managing a chronic illness on top of everything else, and what kind of doctor she's determined to become. Plus, Holly tells the story of a 12th-century Persian physician who linked a patient's psoriasis to emotional conflict — and why it took Western medicine until practically yesterday to admit that the mind and body are linked.

When Dayna Pham was diagnosed with severe psoriasis at 21, the hardest part wasn't the plaques. It was the staring, the dating she stopped doing, and the version of herself she had to grieve. A few years later, on her first day of medical school, psoriatic arthritis arrived too. Now a University of Chicago med student, NPF advocate, and mentor for chronically ill students, Dayna talks candidly about the internal stigma that follows you even when no one's watching, the full-time job of managing a chronic illness on top of everything else, and what kind of doctor she's determined to become. Plus, Holly tells the story of a 12th-century Persian physician who linked a patient's psoriasis to emotional conflict &mdash; and why it took Western medicine until practically yesterday to admit that the mind and body are linked.

Hosted by Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class, Season 3 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast expands the conversation to spotlight the real, unfiltered stories of people living with psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and other conditions that show up on the skin—and what it means to navigate life in a body that others (and you!) don’t always understand.

Each episode, we pull up a seat for people who’ve been there: through the appointments, the flare-ups, the questions, and the quiet moments in between. These are honest, practical conversations about what actually helps: how to advocate for yourself, how to leave a doctor’s office feeling heard and taken seriously, and how to navigate the hard parts without having to figure it all out on your own. Because here, you’re not learning the hard way; you’re learning from people who already have.

Next, we zoom out to explore the wild, weird, and sometimes complicated history of skincare and treatment—from ancient remedies to modern breakthroughs that are still evolving.

Because when we share our stories with people who understand them we create something bigger than awareness. We create community. A place where you’re not the only one in the room… and you never have to feel that way again.

Hosted by Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class, Season 3 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast expands the conversation to spotlight the real, unfiltered stories of people living with psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and other conditions that show up on the skin&mdash;and what it means to navigate life in a body that others (and you!) don&rsquo;t always understand.
Each episode, we pull up a seat for people who&rsquo;ve been there: through the appointments, the flare-ups, the questions, and the quiet moments in between. These are honest, practical conversations about what actually helps: how to advocate for yourself, how to leave a doctor&rsquo;s office feeling heard and taken seriously, and how to navigate the hard parts without having to figure it all out on your own. Because here, you&rsquo;re not learning the hard way; you&rsquo;re learning from people who already have.
Next, we zoom out to explore the wild, weird, and sometimes complicated history of skincare and treatment&mdash;from ancient remedies to modern breakthroughs that are still evolving.
Because when we share our stories with people who understand them we create something bigger than awareness. We create community. A place where you&rsquo;re not the only one in the room&hellip; and you never have to feel that way again.

Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast

The Disability Tax: Future Doctor Dayna Pham on Psoriasis Stigma and Grief

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/94f461b8-ca8f-4abb-896f-b4740002c143/transcript