This woman was denied a haircut because of her psoriasis.
More than 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune diseases, but that doesn’t stop these people from experiencing discrimination and numerous hardships on a daily basis.
Julia Apodaca-Lane talked to WVUA 23 about her experiences with psoriatic arthritis. This includes psoriasis, meaning that Julia’s skin cells build up, creating itchy, dry patches. Psoriasis is not only more common than many people realize but also not contagious at all. That doesn’t stop others from worrying about catching it and discriminating against those who show the symptoms.
Julia told reporters about her experiences when she went to get her haircut at a local hair salon, one of the SmartStyle locations in Tuscaloosa.
“She looks at me. She goes, ‘Are you contagious!’ And I’ve never been treated this way, I mean, about anything.”
Julia explained:
“I’ve got some psoriasis on my forehead, that you can see. It’s on my scalp. I have psoriatic arthritis. So it’s just psoriasis.”
Anyone who knows anything about psoriasis, or can do a quick search on their smartphone, can tell you that it is certainly not contagious. There is no reason for it to get in the way of a normal haircut.
Lataya Aaron, from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, told the reporters that stylists have the right to refuse service in cases where they worry that their health is at risk.
“We do have the right to refuse it, you know. Talk to her and tell her to bring some sort of documentation. I can’t take your word for it because we work for the public; we are not doctors. I’d put it like that.”
Even so, Aaron was sure to tell reporters that cosmetologists should handle their clients with compassion:
“A kind word goes a long way. It should have been personal and private. […] I feel that because you want to treat people like you would want to be treated.”
In the case of Julia, however, the experience was not compassionate.
Even though the stylist was within her rights to deny service, the experience took an emotional toll on Julia:
“I got to the car and I just sat there and sobbed. Just cried and cried and cried. I mean, like, ugly, heaving sobbing.”
It did not help Julia’s experience that:
“I’m paranoid about it. About people looking at me and not knowing what it is. And she made me feel self-conscious. She made me feel like I had done something wrong. That there was something wrong with me. And while I know that these things aren’t true, it doesn’t mean that you’re not going to think them.”
Following the incident, Julia turned to a support group for those with psoriatic arthritis, where she received an outpouring of encouragement.
“You know, in the moment, you don’t know what the other people are going through. She didn’t know if it was a good pain day or a bad pain day for me. She didn’t know that I just had surgery. And that this was my first time getting out of the house. She didn’t know any of that. I’m 31 and I’m using a cane. And I’ve used a walker before.”
Julia has taken the incident as a chance to give people some very important advice.
“You don’t know that about the person, so be kind. You know, whether they have something wrong with them or not, you should be able to give them the best service that you can.”
As for SmartStyle, District Manager Jason Emerson has talked to Julia and let her know that corrective measures were taken to prevent future incidents with that stylist. Emerson is also using this incident as a chance to provide continuing education for all employees at the company’s salons across the state.
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