The Beauty Scoop!: Psoriasis, Kim Kardashian, and Me!
The news that Kim Kardashian has recently been diagnosed with psoriasis may not seem of that much importance to much of the world, but that has really struck a chord with me, and probably a large percentage of the (approximately) 125 million other suffers worldwide.
You see, I’ve always seem Kim Kardashian as being pretty perfect, as I’m sure many of you have too; and whilst I am sorry that she has this condition, I think she’s got real guts to put it out there for all to see, and judge, and judge they have.
I’ve seen some awful comments on the online stories about it; people believing that Kim is being ‘shallow’ and ‘vain’ and should ‘get over herself’ and on the surface I can understand why somebody (who has no immediate compassion) may just think that this is another celebrity overreaction to something fairly minor – but I really don’t believe this is the case, and I’ll explain why.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, one that I have had since about the age of 8, it’s a skin condition that can occur at any age and on ANY part of the body; from the scalp to well... anywhere that you have skin, and it can spread from small patches to almost full body coverage. It’s such an awful thing to suffer with, and is something I have never completely learned to live with, and probably never will, and is also a huge reason why you’ll probably never see my right hand doing a NOTD shot.
The reason for this being that I am very conscious of, and paranoid about what my psoriasis looks like, and more importantly how other people may view my psoriasis (will they wonder if it's contagious etc, it's not by the way, although it can be hereditary) – especially since getting into beauty blogging. I’m always very self conscious about the ugly psoriasis on the fingers of my right hand, and aware that even on my left hand, my skin isn’t always a picture of perfection (which is why, sometimes I may leave a finger out of shot).
My psoriasis goes around the edge of my hairline and ears, I have it on my elbows and also (as mentioned) my fingers. The symptoms (so to speak) are unsightly patches of red skin, often covered with dry skin that usually needs exfoliating on a daily basis. It can be painful, especially when I knock it and end up breaking the skin – and this is especially the case on my fingers where the skin can get particularly weak and where the knocks are more frequent.
If the weak skin and unsightly nature of psoriasis wasn’t bad enough, then the fact that it can cause psoriatic arthritis is just another kick in the teeth to those, who like me, have both conditions; adding severe pain all over the body into the equation.
There is no cure, and any treatments that are available to try to alleviate symptoms usually come with their own set of problems – but I won’t go into all that as it’s quite in-depth (and boring) and this isn’t a medical blog. I just really wanted to explain the condition a little bit more from my own personal experiences, and hopefully soften the view of those people that thought that Kim Kardashian was being a diva over something minor.
Make-up can slightly disguise, but never fully cover the condition!
I hope you don’t mind me posting such a personal and potentially boring post up, it took a lot of guts for me to put it out there about this as it’s something I would usually rather avoid acknowledging, and actually get embarrassed about.
What do you think about Kim having this condition? Do any of you suffer with psoriasis too?
This is interesting. Thanks for posting. I too always see Kim Kardashian as a glamorous lady, who has no imperfections. But as the saying goes ''nobody is perfect'' . .
Hi have psoriasis and had it quite badly when I was about 15, luckily it cleared up (with threatment) and I only now get tiny patches every now and again if I feel stressed or rundown.
At an awkward time in life it made me feel even more self concious, especially when people asked what it was. Thankfully mine was never painful.
My bf has this and uses body shop hemp balm. Obviously it doesn't cure it totally but it really calms it. But like all skin conditions everyone is different so it might jut work for him.
I never knew she had the condition. I've had it for quite a few years now and it's so annoying but not something that can be cured. Kim Kardashian has the money to get special treatment to help it though while people like me and you have to stick to creams that don't work!
this really wasn't boring, it was completely enlightening. Your story really touched me!
Just want to say thanks so much for commenting my lovelies, was hoping the post would be taken as it was meant (and that nobody thought I was moaning lol). I always forget to check my comments tab (probably because I never think anybody is even reading haha), so sorry for the delay in response.
I'm glad she was so open about it. Worst of it is other people commenting on your skin.
"Yes thankyou I had noticed the rashes that come and go for no rhyme or reason, sometimes it decides to ache, or worse, itch, which is a barrell of fail when you have dermatographia as well. I'm sure you would like to tell me what you think it is but I have been to doctors left right and centre, I have several skin conditions, severe allergies and an immune system that hates me with the firey passion of a thousand burning suns. I'm not contagious and being reminded that I can be disfigured at random really gets me down. :( "
Hopefully if there is more awareness about such things people who have learned to...cope...as much as they can, can not be reminded about "how awful" it must be and "how terrible" it looks.
I avoid all SLS and chemical laden products now, I don't have the money or energy to find out exactly which chemicals were aggravating my poor skin. Out with the old, in with Liz Earle and pure Aloe gel to soften and cool. I've yet to find anything that stops my flare ups, but that makes them less miserable. Taking prescribed anti histamines seems to reduce the time.
I absolutely love this, I myself have developed psoriasis just the last year alone and let me tell you this is not easy we have to be strong every single day and motivate ourselves to learn to live with it and not let it ruin completely our lives! I remain hopeful that there is a cure out there for us but is yet to be discovered!
My son has this and is only 4. He is such a beautiful lil man and I preparing him for how to tell him when he is a teenager. I know he's going to be a looker when he gets older, but he will really have to take care of himself to avoid flare ups. He had this first when he was six months in his scalp. All of his beautifully curly locks fell out, he had a pungent odor, inflammation, scales, patches, and red scalp. Every doctor appt I would cry because they kept telling me it was cradle cap. Until a nurse saw me crying in the hall way and she got me a referral to Chapel Hill to see a pediatric dermatologist and he automatically knew what it was and gave us Dermasmooth...three shampooings later his scalp was nice and pink, with left over discoloration, but within a month, you would have never known the ordeal we went through. But I take meticulous care of all his skin, Curel itch defense(dermatologist recommended), Paul Mitchell Leave in hair conditioner, and shea butter. My special lil man.
I've had it for quite a few years now and it's so annoying but not something that can be cured.
I hope Kim Kardashian gets a solution for this soon,I wonder how the Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis occurs to her first and what she had responded over that,I would love to see her without the disease soon and recovered.