I'm Aditi Pundoor: a high school student, dancer, musician, and person living with psoriasis. My experience initially getting diagnosed was not easy. It was full of fear, confusion, frustration, mainly because of the lack of exposure my family had to this kind of disease. We spent months researching, looking for answers, and trying to understand what was happening to my body.
Along the way, I discovered that while psoriasis is not curable, it is possible to live with, especially through lifestyle adjustments. What helped me most wasn't necessarily my prescribed topical creams or frequent trips to the doctor, but more profound lifestyle adjustments, including mindful eating and stress management. Exercise was a resource. Food was fuel. And mental health was vital.
My nonprofit is inspired by that experience. Many people feel alone and overwhelmed by psoriasis and aren't informed of how their daily habits can control their skin, thus affecting their sense of self-worth.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between clinical treatment and everyday life, showing people that healing from the inside is just as vital as prescribed medications.
Flare Forward aims to empower young people with psoriasis through education and community, sharing accessible tools for mental health, nutrition, and lifestyle management while raising awareness about the realities of life with a chronic skin condition.
Yours truly,
Aditi Pundoor