Living with Psoriasis Doesn't Mean You Have to Stop Doing What You Love
Singer-songwriter Leanne Rimes, 44, is flexing her acting chops just after her 44th birthday in the new medical drama television series, “911 Nashville,” set to premiere this Fall.
Throughout Rimes’ career, she’s had to manage her on-screen duties with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition she’s lived with since she was two years old. Still, the singer has been vocal about how she’s learned to manage the condition — and the importance of prioritizing joy.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues. It causes red, itchy patches to develop mainly on the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, feet, scalp, face, and palms.
Although psoriasis is incurable, treatment options to manage symptoms include topical ointments and creams as well as learning to avoid triggers.
As LeAnn Rimes celebrates her 44th birthday, she’s stepping into a bold new chapter—this time, on screen. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is joining the cast of ABC’s upcoming drama “9-1-1: Nashville,” and she’s already teasing fans with excitement. “I can’t wait for y’all to meet Dixie,” Rimes shared in a recent Instagram post, referring to her character in the high-stakes series.
Set in the heart of Music City, “9-1-1: Nashville” dives into the lives of emergency responders who juggle intense rescue missions with the tangled drama of a powerful local dynasty. According to IMDb, the show explores how personal lives and professional duties collide in a city built on grit, glamour, and legacy.
Rimes portrays Dixie Bennings, a mother to a firefighter and a former stripper. The role marks Rimes’ first as a series regular.
Known for timeless hits like “How Do I Live,” “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” and “Blue,” Rimes has long been a force in country and pop music. Her career spans Billboard chart-toppers, Grammy wins, and deeply personal advocacy—including speaking openly about her journey with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition she’s managed throughout her rise to fame.
FRISCO, TEXAS – MAY 08: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. LeAnn Rimes attends the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards at Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star on May 08, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system overreacts and mistakenly attacks its own skin cells. It’s classified as a chronic inflammatory disease that drives inflammation throughout the body, causing rapid skin cell growth, which in turn leads to plaque and scale formation.
There are seven subtypes of psoriasis with varying features and early symptoms. These include the following:
Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common of all psoriasis types that make up around 80-90% of all cases.
Guttate psoriasis. This type of psoriasis is characterized by spots and bumps on the skin that are red or purple and have a scaly texture. In the beginning stages of the disease, these spots generally appear on the torso, legs, and arms, but later, when the disease progresses, they spread to other areas of the body, like the face, scalp, and ears.
Inverse psoriasis. This type differs from other types of psoriasis by the smoothness, flatness, and raw-looking rashes it forms. They usually appear in areas where the skin folds continuously rub against each other, such as the armpits, under the breasts, and the genitals.
Pustular psoriasis. One of the rarest types of psoriasis can be very serious and fatal. In its early stages, pustular psoriasis can be mistaken for pustular acne lesions as they’re both characterized by pus-filled, inflamed, and painful bumps. They appear in various areas of the body, and when they dry out, they cause brown scaly spots.
Erythrodermic psoriasis. Similar to pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis is rare, extremely life-threatening, and needs immediate medical intervention. It’s characterized by skin shedding and debilitating pain.
Nail psoriasis. This type is very common, occurring in more than 50% of people with other types of psoriasis.
Psoriatic arthritis can occur as a result of severe psoriasis. Therefore, pay extra attention if you start to experience joint pain associated with your psoriasis.
Singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 08, 2021 (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
9-1-1: Nashville premieres in October on ABC, and rounding out the cast are Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Rimes’ Journey to Managing Her Psoriasis
Rimes’ psoriasis journey included trying several different treatment options to clear up the condition, including steroid creams.
Steroid creams or topicals are a common option to treat psoriasis. Topicals are often recommended for newly diagnosed psoriasis patients — these work by applying the cream on your affected skin to reduce inflammation.
LeAnn Rimes (Getty Images)
The creams used can also be non-steroidal.
Dr. George Han, a dermatologist at Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital, told SurvivorNet in a previous chat that topical treatments are often a convenient option for patients.
“The majority of patients with psoriasis overall are managed with topicals only,” Dr. Han explained.
“And I would say part of this is from convenience, and you could certainly argue that for patients with milder forms of psoriasis, it’s justifiable to just treat topically.”
How It Impacts the Body
Psoriasis’ symptoms in its early stages can appear as:
Dry patches on the skin
Inflammation and itching of the skin
Silvery scales above the patches
Raised patches on the skin
Psoriasis’s inflammatory effects impact several areas in the body, which most commonly include the following:
Eyes
Joints
Elbows
Knees
Scalp
Lower back
Legs
Face
Hands
Feet
Can Natural Remedies Treat Psoriasis?
Rimes also focused on her diet to reduce flare-ups. Healthline 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. According to Harvard Health Publishing, some foods that cause inflammation include white bread and pastries, fried foods like French fries, sodas and other sugary drinks, red meat, processed meats, and margarine.
These foods can cause insulin (a hormone that controls our blood sugar) to spike in our bodies, contributing to inflammation.
Conversely, examples of anti-inflammatory foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish.
Rimes also tried an “injection regimen” to manage her symptoms, although she has not said what type of injections she uses. She resorted to some vitamin D from the sun 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.
While saltwater can help ease skin conditions, according to SurvivorNet experts, the sun will exacerbate symptoms for some. However, phototherapy, or light therapy, is also a treatment option for psoriasis. It’s generally used when topical medications are not working. Phototherapy exposes the skin to ultraviolet light to slow down the excess growth of skin cells.
“I use raw coconut oil, which I love. I also love a little bit of any kind of carrier oil with a bit of essential oil in it,” Rimes said, as it helps keep her skin moisturized.
Moisturizers can be very effective in treating dryness caused by the disease and promoting skin healing. SurvivorNet experts say the best moisturizer to buy will have the following characteristics:
Heavy textures like oils, ointments, or creams
No fragrance to avoid irritation
Focusing on Joy Rather Than Your Condition Has Benefits
Rimes’ social media post offers a nostalgic feel for her and her fans, and these positive emotions can benefit her overall health as she continues to manage her psoriasis.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, says that maintaining good emotional health and quality of life is associated with better survival and patient outcomes. She encourages cancer patients to prioritize their emotional health for this reason.
“So definitely working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Chase suggests tapping into your support network, which can include loved ones like friends and family. It can also be a patient advocate or a support group — in-person or virtual — that shares your cancer or disease.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are living with psoriasis, you may have additional questions for your care team. Here are a few to help begin that conversation.
What type of psoriasis do I have, and how severe is it?
Which treatment options are best for my symptoms and lifestyle?
What triggers should I watch out for, and how can I prevent flare-ups?
How might psoriasis affect my overall health or be linked to other conditions?
What kind of daily skin care routine should I follow to reduce discomfort and protect my skin?
ANSWER QUESTIONS
