Raising Awareness for Psoriasis Sufferers
- Influencer Dara Lamden may get a bit cheeky on her TikTok page, but the fact that she’s using her platform for good to raise awareness about psoriasis is what counts!
- The social media star says that she is her family’s Kim Kardashian, in more ways than one. The lookalike has similar physical assets, but also identifies with the business mogul, 41, due to her uncomfortable psoriasis skin condition.
- If you are suffering from psoriasis, go see a dermatologist who can help determine the treatment plan best for you. Just know that you don't have to suffer alone. There are many things you can do to help lessen the severity or completely clear your symptoms.
"My biggest flex is that I'm my family's ACTUAL Kim K,” the budding social media star says in one of her videos. "I've got the a$$ and psoriasis to back it up.”
Read More“Kim wishes she looked like you," one of Dana’s 30k plus followers chimed in, obviously making her day.@daralamden1 Step aside ladies I AM the Kim k of my family. Had the plastic surgery to seal the deal! #kimk #kardashians #DailyVlog #EasyRecipe #psoriasis ♬ Thats Hot – AyeshaErotica
"Wow this is the best compliment," the lookalike responded.
“My son has psoriasis it's so frustrating,” another commenter empathized about the frustrating autoimmune condition, while a third gave a skin tip:
“idk if you’ll see this comment and sea buckthorn helps with psoriasis!!”
A 2019 study found that overall, sea buckthorn did help improve skin lesions in psoriasis sufferers.
As can be expected, Kim Kardashian has tried everything out there to combat her condition, but she is also a firm believer in lifestyle changes helping to naturally combat her irritating flare-ups.
Kim K’s Psoriasis Journey
Kim Kardashian, 41, experienced her first psoriasis flare-up at age 25 after she battled a common cold, which she says may have triggered the outbreak. Her mother and momager, Kris Jenner, 66, also suffers from this autoimmune disease.
"My journey has been very different from my mom's, but I see so many similarities as well. She had it in her scalp and all over her body, and I'd see it all the time and remember her going to the tanning salon to try and ease it. Getting UV rays directly on the spots really helped my mom," she shared on sister Kourtney's Poosh lifestyle site.
"For me, however, that remedy would burn the areas and cause them to itch, so I always felt helpless. I am the only child my mom passed down her autoimmune issue to. Lucky me, lol."
What is Psoriasis? Understanding the Different Types and Symptoms of This Rare Skin Condition
At the time of her first flare-up, Kim got a cortisone injection from a dermatologist and luckily the spots, which were mainly on her stomach and legs, disappeared for around five years. Then it came back. Since then, she said her skin has been "unpredictable," but Kim isn't letting the frustrating condition bother her these days.
"I've become extremely comfortable with my psoriasis. No matter where it is on my body, sometimes I am fine with showing it off and other times I don't want it to be a distraction, so I cover it up with body makeup," she wrote.
Kim tries to minimize stress and manage symptoms with healthy lifestyle choices like eating a plant-based diet.
"I hope my story can help anyone else with an autoimmune disease feel confident that there is light at the end of the tunnel."
Learning More About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches to develop on the skin. It is a chronic disease, which means that it does not have a cure. Fortunately, symptoms can often be managed with different treatments and, for some, even lifestyle adjustments.
The disease is rare; only about 3.2% of the U.S. population has it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Still, there have been major developments when it comes to treating psoriasis in recent years.
"Psoriasis is a chronic, auto-immune skin condition where you have red, scaly patches on the skin," 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."
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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.
If you are suffering from psoriasis, go see a dermatologist who can help determine the treatment plan best for you. Just know that you don't have to suffer alone. There are many things you can do to help lessen the severity or completely clear your symptoms.
Psoriasis and Lifestyle Changes
Since psoriasis is known as an autoimmune disease, which is typically an inflammatory condition where the body mistakenly attacks your own cells, there are certain natural lifestyle changes that you can incorporate that won't put as much stress on the body. In turn, the flare ups may diminish, or clear up completely for the lucky ones.
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"Naturally, humidity and the sun work for me," a psoriasis patient tells us. "This [condition] popped up when I was 35. As I got older is when it slowly started appearing; on my elbows, my legs, my scalplittle by little I was a mess. And nobody in my family has it," he adds.
For some, the sun will exacerbate symptoms. Salt water from the ocean, however, can be good for clearing up skin conditions.
Also, eating an anti-inflammatory diet can reportedly help immensely for controlling flare-ups.
Some people with psoriasis try to combat its distressing effects by following a paleo diet.
A paleo diet, by definition, mainly consists of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, and excludes dairy or grain products and processed food.
According to the Paleo Diet website, "Foods that cause inflammation include refined carbohydrates, wheat and other cereal grains, soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages, margarine, shortening and lard, and processed meats."
Related: How Phototherapy Which Exposes Patients to UBV Light Can Treat Psoriasis
These types of foods can cause insulin (a hormone that controls our blood sugar) to spike in our bodies, which can contribute to inflammation and also alter our gut health, meaning change the ration of good bacteria vs. bad bacteria, which can wreak havoc on the body.
Overall, getting an adequate amount of rest and 7-8 hours of sleep every night is a tried and true method of putting less stress on your body, therefore lessening the severity of certain conditions like psoriasis.
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