Since she was 2 years old, singer and songwriter LeAnn Rimes has lived with psoriasis, an incurable skin condition that causes red itchy patches to develop on the skin. Now on her 41st birthday, she’s celebrating the milestone of having learned to manage symptoms associated with the chronic skin condition.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues.
The most affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of feet, scalp, face, and palms.
Although psoriasis is incurable, treatment options to manage symptoms include topical ointments and creams. To further help manage symptoms, people diagnosed should discuss with their doctor to learn what could trigger flare-ups such as possible foods or environmental factors.
Singer and songwriter LeAnn Rimes, 41, begins another year around the sun by reflecting on joyous moments over the last year in a new social media video. As someone living with psoriasis, which is an incurable skin condition, celebrating milestone moments like birthdays means much more with each passing year. This is especially true for people diagnosed with cancer or a chronic disease.
“8 pm is the new midnight so the celebrations have started early,” Rimes quipped in a caption on Instagram.
Rimes added a cute video to her social media post that shows several highlights from the past year full of laughter and fun.
“Here’s to 41 and making more fun memories over the next 365 days,” Rime said.
It’s so encouraging to see Rimes in good spirits despite having lived the vast majority of her life with psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues. It causes red, itchy patches to develop on the skin. The most commonly affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of feet, scalp, face, and palms.
@leannrimes
Symptoms of psoriasis can be managed through various treatments.
LeAnn Rimes was diagnosed with psoriasis at 2 years old and, when she turned 6 years old, about 80% of her body was covered in “painful red spots,” according to an article she wrote for Glamour Magazine.
Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “It is a chronic condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days.”
Dr. Saakshi notes 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 role in the development of psoriasis.
WATCH: There is good news for people out there suffering from plaque psoriasis.
Rimes’ psoriasis journey includes the singer trying several different treatment options to clear up her psoriasis, 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.
The creams used can also be non-steroidal.
LeAnn Rimes (Getty Images)
Dr. George Han, a dermatologist at Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital, adds that topical treatments are often a convenient option for patients.
“The majority of patients with psoriasis overall are managed with topicals only,” Dr. Han explains.
“And I would say part of this is from convenience, and you could argue certainly patients with milder forms of psoriasis, it’s justifiable to just treat topically.”
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.
Some examples of 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, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
SInger-songwriter LeAnn Rimes performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 08, 2021(Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
These types of foods can cause insulin (a hormone that controls our blood sugar) to spike in our bodies, which can contribute 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 with easing skin conditions, according to SurvivorNet experts, for some, the sun will exacerbate symptoms. However, phototherapy, or light therapy, is 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.
LeAnn Rimes attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)
“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 to help keep her skin moisturized.
Moisturizers can be very effective in treating dryness caused by the disease and promoting healing of the skin. SurvivorNet experts say the best moisturizer to buy will have the following characteristics:
Heavy textures like oils, ointments, or creams
Doesn’t include any fragrance to avoid irritation
Reaching Milestones Amid a Health Journey
Similar to cancer patients and their families, for people living with a chronic disease, reaching life’s milestones is a big deal. Milestones can be a birthday, a new baby, a marriage, traveling on a dream vacation, or something else. Most importantly, these milestones during or after a health challenge tend to have a greater meaning because often people enduring adversity tend to gain a greater sense of gratitude towards their life.
WATCH: One cancer survivor’s incredible story detailing the value of milestones.
SurvivorNet previously spoke to Chrissy Degennaro who battled multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer. Upon her diagnosis, she was concerned she would not be able to see her young son reach kindergarten, but she was able to experience that milestone moment thanks to advancements in treatment.
Focusing on the Positive
Rimes’ social media posts suggest she’s not letting her chronic skin condition control her life. By focusing on things that bring her positivity and joy, she’s doing what experts SurvivorNet have spoken to also recommend and that’s prioritizing their emotional health.
WATCH: The importance of good emotional health.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, told SurvivorNet.
“So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities,” Dr. Chase added.
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
Psoriasis
For people dealing with psoriasis there are an increasing number of treatment options. It’s important to understand the options and consult a specialist.
