Educational Media Reviews Online

There is nothing so viscerally distressing as the sight of a child suffering, especially for parents. Although psoriasis, a chronic skin condition, and its occasional companion, psoriatic arthritis, typically presents in adulthood, 20,000 children are diagnosed with it every year. Since most people are not familiar with the condition beyond the occasionally lampooned “heartbreak of psoriasis” advertisement from the 1960’s, peers, teachers and others may not recognize the severe physical and emotional discomfort experienced by the child suffering from an outbreak, even as they recoil from the prominent lesions on the skin announcing its presence. This film, focusing on several children with psoriasis (aged 6 to late adolescent) and their families, seeks to increase awareness of the disease as well as provide support to children who may feel isolated by the diagnosis. The children featured are engaging and, yes, “normal” kids, who want what any child wants. In addition, however, they also want to lead a life free of itchy, painful breakouts and their attendant bothersome and sometimes ineffective treatments. The film also features interviews with the children’s parents and healthcare providers, who provide insight into the family struggles and clinical perspectives. The production values are good, with some lovely scenery, and the family scenes are natural and unforced. The work is perhaps a bit longer than necessary, and some additional diversity among the featured families would be welcome. Still, this film is recommended, particularly for support groups and any health collections focused on chronic and/or genetic conditions affecting children.