‘Queer Eye’ Star Jonathan Van Ness, 38, Is Giving ‘Sleigh’ Vibes On Scandinavian Getaway While Managing Psoriasis

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn)

The Emmy-nominated TV personality and LGBTQ+ activist’s post reassures us that Van Ness—beloved for his work on “Queer Eye” and the web series parody “Gay of Thrones”—is successfully managing his psoriasis, something he opened about in an earlier interview with Parade.

Van Ness, who first spoke about living with the condition on Instagram in 2018, told Parade in fall 2021 that he was only 23 when his psoriasis symptoms first appeared.

He said, “I was covered in little red dots and I didn’t know what it was. My skin was itchy and tight at times. It didn’t hurt that bad, but I knew it wasn’t normal.

“It took me a long time to figure out what it was and how to manage it.”

Recalling how his doctor initially attributed his symptoms to an infection or allergic reaction, he explained, “I got a little scratch and that triggered my flare-up.

RELATED: What is Psoriasis Rash? Descriptions, Causes, & More

“It threw everyone for a loop, because initially, it made my doctor think I had a bacterial infection or maybe I was allergic to something.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn)

He continued, “Since there are so many different ways to go about treating psoriasis, it can be frustrating.

“You get your hopes up thinking maybe this doctor will discover what’s wrong—or at least that’s how it was for me.”

To cope with his frustrations amid psoriasis, Van Ness developed practices that help him stay balanced. He told Parade that Yoga has been a cornerstone of his healing process, along with gymnastic, writing, and figure skating.

“Self-care, to me, is anything that makes you feel good and brings happiness into your life.Sometimes that means resting,” he added.

“Other times, it’s gardening, practicing gymnastics, or skating.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn)

He concluded by admitting psoriasis journey “can feel isolating,” but he is determined to help others feel less alone.

“It’s something that millions of people have, and there’s nothing wrong with us because we have psoriasis,” he concluded. “We’re still gorgeous and we’re still beautiful people.”

Psoriasis is Chronic, But Can Be Managed

According to the National Institute of Health, “Many people with psoriasis have a family history of the disorder. Researchers have identified certain genes linked to the disease but still don’t fully understand the disease process. They do know that it isn’t contagious.”

Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, previously told SurvivorNet, “It is a chronic condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days.”

WATCH: Understanding the various types of psoriasis.

Dr. Saakshi noted that although psoriasis can affect anyone, it is most frequently seen in individuals between the ages of 30 and 50. Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the development of the condition.

Common symptoms often include:

• 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

Topical medicines like skin creams are considered mainstays in treating psoriasis symptoms. The topical you take depends on the kind of psoriasis you’re dealing with and its related symptoms.

The seven different types of psoriasis include:

• Plaque psoriasis: The most common form of the disease 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 rare form of psoriasis causes pus-filled blisters to develop in widespread patches across the body.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is another rare form of the disease. It can involve the entire body and cause a red, peeling rash that may itch or burn intensely.
• Psoriatic arthritis: With this form of the disease, joints may become swollen and painful. Sometimes, joint pain is the first or only symptom, while other symptoms, like nail changes, occur.

How is Psoriasis Treated?

Sometimes, psoriasis is treated with oral drugs, which may include:

• Methotrexate: This medication was approved for psoriasis in 1972 and can be administered orally or intravenously. It works as an immunosuppressant that inhibits rapidly dividing cells. According to the American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines, methotrexate is typically administered in doses ranging from 7.5 mg to 25 mg weekly as one dose or divided into three dosages over 24 hours. Common side effects include fatigue and nausea.
• Apremilast (Otezla): This medication suppresses an enzyme inside inflammation cells. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache.
• Cyclosporine: This drug isn’t used for long-term psoriasis treatment due to potentially serious adverse effects. However, it does have a role “as a rapid-acting medication for severe, recalcitrant disease, acute flares, and erythroderma.” Nephrotoxicity (kidney issues) and hypertension (high blood pressure) are cyclosporine’s most common adverse side effects.

Other systemic treatment options for psoriasis include Biologic drugs or biologics, which are given by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion (a slow drip of medicine into your vein).

These drugs target only specific parts of the immune system, while other systemic drugs target the whole system.

To Share or Not to Share a Diagnosis

Some people battling a disease such as cancer or a chronic condition like psoriasis are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches, and everything in between, are valid.

“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.

WATCH: What to know about sharing your diagnosis?

Questions like “How much information should I share and with whom should I share the information?” are things Plutchik says patients often wonder.

Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”

A cancer journey can range from a few months to several years—or even a lifetime—leaving many cancer warriors with considerable uncertainty until they fully understand their health situation.

This uncertainty can affect when someone feels ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik explains.

She also highlights the importance of respecting the wishes of those facing cancer, particularly regarding disclosure of their diagnosis and decisions about seeking support.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.