Singer-Songwriter LeAnn Rimes, 43, Was Just 13 When She Recorded ‘Blue’ Album, Now the Psoriasis Survivor Gearing Up for Her ’30 Years of Blue’ Tour

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.

Rimes tells Psoriasis.org that she was diagnosed with the skin disease when she was just a toddler, and it worsened throughout her childhood.

“As I became a performer, I went to great lengths to hide my psoriasis,” Rimes said.

“By the time I was six, I was 80% covered on my body. My hands, feet, and face have battled it my whole life,” Rimes told Prevention.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rimes shared with fans a major flare-up sparked by stress.

“I’ve never actually had a flare while discussing it, and so I wanted people to see that it was real, that I do struggle through the same things that they do … you know, encourage people to share their own stories,” Rimes said.

“I’ve had years where I’ve gone clear [from psoriasis], because of different medications that have worked, but I don’t know really my life without that being part of it,” Rimes adds.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes)

“The ‘30 years of Blue’ tour is officially happening, and I’m so excited to announce the first run of dates. Don’t worry if your city/state isn’t listed yet; I will be adding to this list throughout the year,” Rimes said in an Instagram post promoting her tour while filming herself blowing out a cake with a candle symbolizing 30 years.

Understanding Psoriasis Subtypes

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.

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.

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.

WATCH: The benefits of finding time for joy amid health struggles.

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?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---