Cyndi Lauper has revealed the agonizing battle she has had for years with a secret, “awful” health condition.
The 71-year-old legendary singer, known for her blazing pop anthems, described how much effort she went to make her psoriasis known to her fans, including spray painting her skin for TV shows and wearing special outfits for events. Lauper, who first appeared on the Graham Norton Show on Friday night (January 31), was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis in 2010 and had to go through extensive research to find a doctor who could treat her symptoms effectively.
Plaque psoriasis, as the NHS explains, is a common form that causes dry, scaly skin patches, particularly on areas like elbows and knees, often accompanied by itching or soreness. “It wasn’t just a rash for me. It’s my whole body”, she candidly explained to Prevention. “When I was just living with it, it was flared]up] on the back of my arms. I thought, ‘ Here’s a good idea, I’ll wear shirts that open in the front so I don’t look like Mother Cabrini, all covered up’… Then, of course,]the psoriasis] moves”.
Before TV shows, Lauper admitted to covering up her condition with spray paint until she sought medical attention. She has previously described how she manages severe flare-ups of the condition, noting that it used to cover the majority of her body and that it “looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”
The actress acknowledged that she looked like a nun and tried to conceal her psoriasis underneath turtleneck-wear, turtlenecks, and long sleeves. In an effort to “look normal,” she discovered that applying makeup only made her skin texture worse and used self-tanner. According to Birmingham Live, Lauper also mentioned how to cover her skin with mesh netting when wearing it on stage.
After working with the National Psoriasis Foundation, she has spoken about being debilitated by her psoriasis and likens herself to the Elephant Man in her struggles. She revealed: “My immune system got a little wacky, and it took my strength away. My skin was so inflamed, it could not regulate hot and cold, so I had the chills all the time”.
At 10:40 p.m. on BBC One, Cyndi Lauper will appear on the Graham Norton Show.
Source: Mirror
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