Managing Life With Psoriasis
- Singer and songwriter LeAnne Rimes, 41, shared a throwback video this week, revealing she hasn’t changed much over the past years, despite living with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition.
- Psoriasis is a rare skin condition that causes red, itchy patches to develop on the skin that does not have a cure.
- Rimes tried several different treatment options over the years to clear up her psoriasis including steroid creams, diet changes, injections and moisturizers.
- Experts say avoiding foods that cause inflammation, like fried food, can help manage symptoms. And biologic injection medications are available to target the immune system. However, biologics can lead to concerning symptoms, so your doctor will help you determine the best treatment plan for you.
- SurvivorNet doctors say treatment options are available “where over half of the patients who have moderate to severe psoriasis are getting 100% clear.”
It’s clear to see the “How Do I Live” singer is thriving health wise as she still maintains her clear skin, golden locks, and trim physique. Rimes has been doing what she loves and making time for eating healthy and exercising amid her battle with a chronic skin condition, psoriasis.
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She captioned the post, “Sweet memories from London! I can’t believe we were there to release ‘remnants’ seven years ago… we may have to make a trip back over soon, I miss you all.”
Rime is seen looking remarkable with glowing skin, donning a low-cute silk navy dress, with a slit showing off her legs.
As she mesmerizes the crowed with her voice, dancers perform below her, making the performance extra magical.
Replying to a fans comment, reading, “Wow 7 years ago where does the time go. yes please LeAnn all of us fans can’t wait to welcome you back to the UK,” Rimes said, “Coming.”
Another fan wrote, “‘Remnants’ was the album that made me your fan. That’s when I realized the incredible songwriter that you are, and I felt your voice deeply comfort me.”
“Just absolutely beautiful you have a way to touch deep down into the soul,” commented a third.
The flashback video comes just a few weeks after Rimes shared some behind the scenes footage of her “Jealous of Myself” music video, again showing off her healthy body while exuding confidence.
Rimes previously admitted, back in 2017, how she often works out to stay in her best shape.
She told Us Weekly at the time, “I take a jump rope with me everywhere I go, so it’s easy to do and easy to do bodyweight workouts in my dressing room.
“I’m serious about my exercise. I don’t just doodle around.”
According to Hello Magazine, Rimes also told Us Weekly she puts in the hard work that it takes to keeping her body looking and feeling its best.
She told the news outlet, “I see people at the gym talking on their cell phones. If they think their bodies are gonna change, you’ve got to put in the effort!”
The beloved singer also told Us Weekly how she likes to take SoulCycle classes, go on hikes, and take walks with her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian. Not only do they work out together, but they also encourage each other to eat well.
She recounted, “When I first met him, he was not the healthiest eater at all. But I think I’ve gotten him over on my team.”
Rimes even took to her “Soul of Everle” blog before her 40th birthday in 2022 to say, “I know my body is going to begin to shift, hormonally, so I wanted to set myself up for a healthy and happy new decade.”
However, her diet isn’t also so strict. In 2020, she told Women’s Health, “Nourishment usually looks like high-quality, healthy, whole foods, but sometimes nourishment is the cake, the chips, the pizza, and the mac and cheese. It’s all a balance.”
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LeAnn Rimes’ Psoriasis Journey
LeAnn Rimes was diagnosed with psoriasis earlier than most at age 2. By the time she was six, about 80 percent of Rimes’ body was covered in painful red spots, according to an article she wrote for Glamour.
Rimes did everything she could to hide her condition from the world and find treatment that worked. Eventually, she discovered an injectable treatment in her 20s that kept her skin clear, but the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic brought her symptoms to the surface again.
Expert Psoriasis Resources
- Your Top 10 Psoriasis Questions Answered; Learning About This Bothersome Skin Condition and How to Manage It
- Psoriasis Subtypes and Early-Stage Symptoms
- Systemic Treatment Options for Psoriasis Target Triggers Within the Body to Alleviate Symptoms
- What is Psoriasis? Understanding the Different Types and Symptoms of This Rare Skin Condition
- ‘Can Psoriasis Cause Fertility Problems?’ And Other Psoriasis Myths Debunked; Understanding This Autoimmune Skin Condition
“All hell broke loose in the world and inside of me, as I’m sure it did for so many other people amid this pandemic,” she wrote. “Stress is a common trigger for psoriasis, and with so much uncertainty happening, my flare-ups came right back.”
Since then, the beloved singer has decided to own her psoriasis and share details about her journey to educate about the chronic condition. She even did a nude photoshoot for the Glamour article that put her psoriasis on full display.
“I hope anyone who also kept themselves small has the courage to step outside of that cage,” she wrote. “When we allow ourselves not to be held in, our lives come back to us.”
Despite all Rimes as been through, it appears her healthy eating habits and exercise regime is doing her well, as her skin appears clear and she’s often seen smiling in her social media posts.
As for how Rimes has copes with psoriasis, Healthline previously reported she “eliminated gluten and all fried food from her diet.”
SurvivorNet experts say certain foods and drinks can trigger autoimmune conditions and cause inflammation.
Rimes has also said she tried an “injection regimen” to manage her symptoms. She has not said what type of injections she uses, but SurvivorNet experts have some insight on what injection options are available to treat psoriasis.
The famed singer also previously opened about how she incorporates time outside to help manage her symptoms.
“Saltwater and sunshine mother nature’s gifts to us truly, truly help me. I’ve been in a place before many times and gone on vacation and come back and been completely clear,” she said to Prevention, a health news resource.
Understanding Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches to develop on the skin. It is a chronic disease, which means that it does not have a cure.
Psoriasis: Understanding the Different Types and Symptoms of This Rare Skin Condition
Fortunately, symptoms can often be managed with different treatment options as well as lifestyle adjustments. And only about 2% of the U.S. population suffers from it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Still, there have been major developments in recent years when it comes to the treatment and management of psoriasis.
“Psoriasis is a chronic, auto-immune skin condition where you have red, scaly patches on the skin,” Dr. Khattri told SurvivorNet. “It is a long-term condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days.”
Dr. Khattri explained that while anyone can develop psoriasis, the disease is more common in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Researchers believe genetics, as well as environmental factors, may play a vital role in the development of this disease.
Dr. George Han, a Dermatologist at Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital, told SurvivorNet that psoriasis is also connected with many internal comorbidities.
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“The most obvious of which is psoriatic arthritis, which is inflammatory arthritis that if left untreated is quite debilitating, as well as a number of other comorbidities that we are learning more and more about, such as inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Han explained. “So, there are a lot of different connections, also with psychiatric comorbidities.”
What are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?
Psoriasis can often be asymptomatic (without symptoms), so people who have the disease will not be dealing with constant outbreaks or flare-ups.
Some patients report itching [or a] burning sensation, but that does not tend to be the norm. It certainly can and does happen, Dr. Khattri explains. Then if you have psoriasis in the genital area, it can feel uncomfortable just because it is in a very sensitive part of the body. But for the most part, it tends to be asymptomatic, generally speaking.
WATCH: There is good news for people out there suffering from plaque psoriasis.
Dr. Han says he sees many patients with itching. “It is interesting because if you look at the older dermatology textbooks, there was this concept that psoriasis is not supposed to itch. And so they made this distinction between the itchy rash, which is eczema dermatitis and psoriasis, which is supposed to be not itchy,” Dr. Han says.
“But if you actually ask patients and in some of the modern literature now, upwards of 80% to 90% of patients do have itching associated with their psoriasis.”
Generalized symptoms associated with the disease include the following:
- Red patches of skin covered with silvery-like scales
- Small scaling spots
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed or itch
- Itching, burning sensation, or soreness
- Thickened or ridged nails
- Swollen or stiff joints
Dr. Khattri recommends seeing a dermatologist if you notice red, scaly spots on the body so a specialized practitioner can make a proper diagnosis and treatment action plan. Psoriasis patches can vary in how their appearance and location on the skin. The disease may present as just a few spots with dandruff-like scaling or as rashes that cover large parts of the body. The most commonly affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of feet, scalp, face, and palms.
Dr. Han says most types of psoriasis can be diagnosed clinically, meaning your healthcare team can determine psoriasis on sight. With more atypical (not typical; rare) forms of psoriasis, a biopsy may be needed.
What are the Different Types of Psoriasis?
There are several different types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis being the most common. The types differ in how they present and what they are caused by.
- Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common form of the disease (this is what Bridges has) and causes dry, raised skin patches that may be covered in scales. The patches may be itchy and tender.
- Nail psoriasis: This disease can affect fingernails and toenails and might cause nails to loosen from the nail bed.
- Guttate psoriasis: This disease typically affects young adults and children and is often caused by a bacterial infection, like strep throat.
- Inverse psoriasis: This type of psoriasis mainly affects skin folds, so it will often present in areas such as the groin, buttocks, or breasts, and can worsen with friction or sweating.
- Pustular psoriasis: This is an atypical (rare) form of psoriasis that causes pus-filled blisters to develop in widespread patches across the body.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is also a rare form of the disease. It can cover the entire body with a red, peeling rash that may itch or burn intensely.
- Psoriatic arthritis: With this form of the disease, joints may become swollen, irritated, and painful. Sometimes, joint pain is the first or only symptom, while other times other symptoms like nail changes will occur for some people.
The treatment approach will depend on the type of psoriasis a person has, and what kind of symptoms they present with. Dr. Khattri notes that for some people, symptoms may resolve with over-the-counter (OTC) creams or ointments, while others with moderate to severe disease may need a more systemic approach.
“It is hard to generalize and say whether it will be progressive for everybody or whether this will just be like a lesion here and there, which sort of self resolves with some over-the-counter (OTC) or topical treatment options,” she says.
“The one thing that I would say as a Rheumatologist is that everybody should know that psoriasis is just not limited solely to the skin. You can have a joint involvement in about a third of patients. With psoriasis you can even go on to developing psoriatic arthritis.”
If a patient has developed rashes or scaly patches of skin and also begins noticing other symptoms, such as stiffness or joint pain, Dr. Khattri suggests seeking medical attention right away rather than trying to resolve the issue with mild over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.
“If you have psoriasis on the skin or what looks like psoriasis on the skin, along with the onset of joint pain or tenderness, whether it is sort of stiffness in the lower back or a swelling of the finger or a toe that is inexplicable, do think of psoriatic arthritis and then certainly reach out to healthcare providers sooner rather than later.”
Moving Forward: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Could my symptoms be related to another condition?
- What treatment options do I have?
- Are there any lifestyle adjustments I should make?
- How often should I be monitored?
- How does psoriasis usually progress? Can it come and go?
- How often can flare-ups occur?
How is Psoriasis Managed?
Psoriasis symptoms can often be managed with different treatments and some lifestyle adjustments. Treatment options basically fall into three categories: topical treatments (which would be ointments or creams you can rub on the skin), phototherapy (using UVB light to treat the disease), or systemic treatments (drugs taken either orally or through an IV that treat symptoms by targeting parts of the immune system).
Topical Treatments
Topicals are considered a mainstay for treating psoriasis, and there are several different options available. When it comes to topicals, the route you go with will depend on what type of psoriasis you have and how symptoms are presenting.
Some of the different topical creams and ointments that may be prescribed include:
- Corticosteroids: These drugs may be prescribed to treat mild to moderate psoriasis and can be a good option during flare ups. They are available as ointments, creams, lotions, gels, foams, sprays, and shampoos. Topical corticosteroids are classified into seven categories based on their potency, ranging in strength from ultra-high to low. Lower potency corticosteroids are typically used on the face, while areas with thick, chronic plaques often require treatment with ultrahigh-potency corticosteroids.
- Vitamin D analogues: These synthetic forms of vitamin D can help slow skin growth. The drugs can be used alone or in combination with corticosteroids. Calcipotriene (also known as calcipotriol) and calcitriol are the two commonly used synthetic vitamin D analogues.
- Retinoids: Retinoids can come as a gel or cream and be used to relieve some psoriasis symptoms. Topical tazarotene can be particularly helpful for palmar-plantar psoriasis (palms and soles) and nail psoriasis, the AAD and NPF guidelines say.
- Calcineurin inhibitors: These drugs reduce inflammation and plaque buildup. These may be helpful in areas where skin is thin, like around the eyes, but should not be used for long periods of time due to potential side effects. Although not FDA approved for psoriasis, the topical calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are often used in the treatment of psoriasis.
- Salicylic acid: These shampoos and scalp solutions can reduce the symptoms of psoriasis on the scalp. Salicylic acid minimizes scaling and softens plaques. It can also be combined with other topical medications including corticosteroids.
- Coal tar: A product of coal, this medication has been used to treat psoriasis for more than a century, according to AAD and NPF. These drugs can reduce scaling, itching, and inflammation and can be included in shampoos, creams, and oils.
Phototherapy
Another treatment option for psoriasis is phototherapy. This therapy is generally used when medications applied to the skin alone do not work and alternative options are needed. It can also be used for patients who wish to avoid medications that can affect their entire body (system medications). Phototherapy can also be used in conjunction with topical and/or systemic psoriasis treatments.
Phototherapy exposes patients with psoriasis to narrow band UVB light.
“It’s a limited spectrum of the sunlight, which we use. Patients generally have to come to a place that does phototherapy. There’s a phototherapy box. You go there. It’s generally three times a week in the very beginning until your psoriasis is in control. And beyond that we can space it apart to once a week or twice a week as maintenance,” Dr. Khattri says.
Dr. Khattri explains how phototherapy is used to treat psoriasis.
A frequency of twice or three times weekly is effective and is recommended, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) guidelines.
Systemic Treatment
Sometimes treatments applied to the skins surface just aren’t enough to clear stubborn psoriasis. That’s where systemic treatment (treatment that travels through your entire body rather than being aimed at one area) can be beneficial for patients. Systemic treatments are available via oral medication and injections. Some have been around for decades, while others are relatively new to the landscape.
“I have patients who come in after having been to many other medical practices and not really getting much hope or really good treatments for their psoriasis,” Dr. Han explains to SurvivorNet. “And we’ll give the patient a systemic medicine that these days are very effective. We have treatments where over half of the patients who have moderate to severe psoriasis are getting 100% clear.”
Systemic treatments may include oral medications like methotrexate, Apremilast (otezla), or cyclosporine. Biologic drugs, or biologics, which are given by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion (a slow drip of medicine into your vein), may also be given. These drugs target only specific parts of the immune system, while other systemic drugs target the whole system.
There are three main categories of biologics used to treat psoriasis, according to Dr. Khattri. These include:
- Injections that target and block TNF, a pro-inflammatory molecule that the body may be producing too much of when a person has psoriasis (includes drugs like Humira, Cimzia, and Enbrel)
- Injections that target and block IL-17, another pro-inflammatory molecule that could trigger psoriasis symptoms (includes drugs like Cosentyx, Taltz, and Siliq)
- Injections that target IL-12 or IL-23, which are also proteins linked to psoriasis symptoms (examples of these drugs include Tremfya and Ilumya)
“All of these are injections which are approved for psoriasis, and some of them are also approved for psoriatic arthritis,” Dr. Khattri explains.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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