Singer, songwriter, actress and activist Cyndi Lauper is partnering with National Psoriasis Foundation and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation on I’m PsO Ready, a national initiative highlighting the physical, emotional and social challenges of psoriasis.
The program aims to inspire people with psoriasis to speak up and celebrate their everyday successes.
Today, Lauper reveals she is living with psoriasis, a condition that affects as many as 7.5 million Americans. Like many with this condition, Lauper has struggled physically and emotionally, and she has gone to great lengths to cover up her skin before public appearances. Learn more about Lauper’s psoriasis story at MoreToPsOriasis.com.
“My psoriasis made me want to hide, but being in the public eye I knew I couldn’t stay inside,” said Lauper. “During performances I have skin-colored fishnets that I wear to cover the redness and spots or I would wear long sleeves, leather pants. I also use makeup to cover my skin. When I would sweat, because I don’t stand still and sing, it would make the psoriasis even worse.”
After her diagnosis in 2010, Lauper worked with a physician and sought home remedies to control her psoriasis. While some therapies worked temporarily, Lauper’s psoriasis would come back, leading to frustration and a sense of hopelessness. After learning more about this condition and talking to others, Lauper wants to share her story and help those affected by psoriasis.
“I am usually a very vocal and open person, but I think sharing your psoriasis story is very personal and takes a lot of courage. Raising awareness and educating others is critical. It is very easy to feel isolated,” Lauper noted. “Through I’m PsO Ready, I want people living with the condition to understand that we don’t have to be embarrassed, we don’t have to cover up and we don’t have to settle for life the way it is.”
I’m PsO Ready is part of a larger disease awareness initiative — More To PsOriasis — to help people communicate about the realities of life with psoriasis. MoreToPsOriasis.com features information and resources, as well as unique multi-media content including:
• Cyndi’s experience – Lauper will share her personal journey with psoriasis through videos and inspirational quotes, including the ways she lives a healthy life.
• That’s PsO My Reality – A one-of-a-kind docu-series that follows real people as they take on the daily challenges of managing psoriasis.
• Regular updates from Lauper on lifestyle tips, psoriasis-specific events and access to additional patient resources.
Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic disease of the immune system that most often appears on the skin as painful, red, itchy patches. Studies have shown psoriasis can have a similar impact as other serious illnesses, such as cancer and hypertension, with 94 percent of people reporting that psoriasis impacts their daily life.
“For some people, living with psoriasis can be isolating and cause a lot of embarrassment and low self-esteem,” said Dr. Colby Evans, chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Directors. “Many people with psoriasis limit dating and social interactions because of their condition. Our hope is that I’m PsO Ready encourages and inspires people with psoriasis to realize they are not alone and to help them take control of their condition.”
The most common type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, affecting 80 percent of people with the condition. People with psoriasis are at an increased risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and Crohn’s disease, among other associated conditions.
“At Novartis, we are continually inspired by the courage of the psoriasis community who struggle with this isolating condition every day,” said Christi Shaw, president of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. “By partnering with NPF and Cyndi, we want to unite the millions of Americans who have psoriasis through a message of empowerment and hope.”
