YouTube Star Jenn McAllister Turns 30—How She Manages Psoriasis and Embraces Self-Compassion

Understanding Psoriasis

She also shared a picturesque photo of a gondola set against what appeared to be the Swiss Alps.

It’s encouraging to see McAllister enjoying her milestone birthday in Europe while appearing to keep her psoriasis well managed, often sharing photos on social media that show her skin looking healthy and clear.

Her latest photos brought to mind a time when she previously spoke with SELF magazine about how she’s learned to cope with psoriasis, which Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, previously described to SurvivorNet as a “chronic, auto-immune skin condition where you have red, scaly patches on the skin,” adding that it’s a “chronic condition, which can ebb and flow.”

RELATED: Managing The Emotional Burden, Even The Shame, That Can Come With Psoriasis

McAllister, who has been creating YouTube videos since she was 12 years old, told SELF, “Everyone on the internet puts out this perfect version of themselves. There are some things that I like to keep to myself.

“I feel like it’s important to have that boundary line. Something that people might not know about me is that I have psoriasis.”

She continued, “Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that basically causes these red, patchy, scaly areas on your skin. I tend to get these patches on my joints, like my elbows, my knees, I have them around my ankles.

“It’s really closely linked to stress. I think I noticed it for the first time around three or four years ago. I didn’t really think it was like anything, until it started becoming painful. It just became an insecurity of mine.”

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McAllister said her insecurities about psoriasis often made her feel as though everyone around her was noticing her skin.

Approximately two years after her diagnosis, she decided to respond to a comment she received online, an experience that prompted her to speak more openly about living with the condition, she told SELF.

McAllister said that after someone questioned why her elbows were red, she revealed she had psoriasis and was surprised when others responded by sharing their own experiences with the condition.

The response gave her a sense of connection, showing her that others were navigating similar challenges and that she had people she could turn to for understanding and encouragement.

McAllister also spoke about how her psoriasis flare-ups have encouraged her to pay closer attention to her overall well-being.

Dr. Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, explains what psoriasis is and how it typically presents.

She explained, “When my psoriasis flares up it feels like my body is sounding an alarm to take care of myself. There’s a lot of things that I do to manage stress.

“I meditate, I have a better diet now. I also try and get a lot of sleep. I realized how important it is to really spend time with yourself.”

Psoriasis: Symptoms, Treatment Options, and Expert Guidance

McAllister advises, “Have time where you’re not always connected to social media. Having self-compassion with myself and understanding that at the end of the day it is an autoimmune disease, can’t really control that coming on. I think it’s important to talk about it, and educate people, and end the stigma.

“Is just hope that we can all be a little bit more compassionate with one another.”

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A post shared by Jenn McAllister (@jennmcallister)

Understanding 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 treatment options as well as lifestyle adjustments. This condition is rare. Only about 3.2% of the U.S. population suffers from it, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Still, there have been major developments in recent years when it comes to treatment and management of psoriasis.

“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 long-term condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days.”

Dr. Saakshi explains 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 vital role in the development of this disease.

Dr. George Han, a Dermatologist at Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital, tells SurvivorNet that psoriasis is also connected with many internal comorbidities.

“The most obvious of which is psoriatic arthritis, which is an inflammatory arthritis that if left untreated is quite debilitating, as well as a number of other comorbidities that we are learning more and more about, such as inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome. So, there are a lot of different connections, also with psychiatric comorbidities.”

What are the Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis can often be asymptomatic (without symptoms), so people who have the disease will not be dealing with constant outbreaks or “flare-ups.”

“Some patients report itching [or a] burning sensation, but that does not tend to be the norm. It certainly can and does happen,” Dr. Khattri explains. “Then if you have psoriasis in the genital area, it can feel uncomfortable just because it is in a very sensitive part of the body. But for the most part, it tends to be asymptomatic, generally speaking.”

Dr. Han says he sees many patients with itching. “It is interesting because if you look at the older dermatology textbooks, there was this concept that psoriasis is not supposed to itch. And so they made this distinction between the itchy rash, which is eczema dermatitis and psoriasis, which is supposed to be not itchy,” Dr. Han says. “But if you actually ask patients and in some of the modern literature now, upwards of 80% to 90% of patients do have itching associated with their psoriasis.”

Generalized symptoms associated with the disease include the following:

• 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

Dr. Khattri recommends seeing a dermatologist if you notice red, scaly spots on the body so a specialized practitioner can make a proper diagnosis and treatment action plan. Psoriasis patches can vary in how their appearance and location on the skin. The disease may present as just a few spots with dandruff-like scaling or as rashes that cover large parts of the body. The most commonly affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of feet, scalp, face, and palms.

Dr. Han says most types of psoriasis can be diagnosed clinically, meaning your healthcare team can determine psoriasis on sight. With more atypical (not typical; rare) forms of psoriasis, a biopsy may be needed.

What are the Different Types of Psoriasis?

There are several different types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis being the most common. The types differ in how they present and what they are caused by.

• Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common form of the disease and 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 is an atypical (rare) form of psoriasis that causes pus-filled blisters to develop in widespread patches across the body.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is also a rare form of the disease. It can cover the entire body with a red, peeling rash that may itch or burn intensely.
• Psoriatic arthritis: With this form of the disease, joints may become swollen, irritated, and painful. Sometimes, joint pain is the first or only symptom, while other times other symptoms like nail changes will occur for some people.

The treatment approach will depend on the type of psoriasis a person has, and what kind of symptoms they present with. Dr. Khattri notes that for some people, symptoms may resolve with over-the-counter (OTC) creams or ointments, while others with moderate to severe disease may need a more systemic approach.

“It is hard to generalize and say whether it will be progressive for everybody or whether this will just be like a lesion here and there, which sort of self resolves with some over-the-counter (OTC) or topical treatment options,” she says.

“The one thing that I would say as a Rheumatologist is that everybody should know that psoriasis is just not limited solely to the skin. You can have a joint involvement in about a third of patients with psoriasis you can even go on to developing psoriatic arthritis.”

If a patient has developed rashes or scaly patches of skin and also begins noticing other symptoms, such as stiffness or joint pain, Dr. Khattri suggests seeking medical attention right away rather than trying to resolve the issue with mild over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.

“If you have psoriasis on the skin or what looks like psoriasis on the skin, along with the onset of joint pain or tenderness, whether it is sort of stiffness in the lower back or a swelling of the finger or a toe that is inexplicable, do think of psoriatic arthritis and then certainly reach out to healthcare providers sooner rather than later.”

Why Emotional Support Matters Through Psoriasis

It’s so important to have supportive loved ones and uplifting friendships as you go through a health battle or face a health condition. Many people may have misconceptions about psoriasis. They may think there’s a simple fix, like an over the counter cream, or that it’s some sort of contagious ailment — both of these things are untrue.

Initially, if you’ve just received a psoriasis diagnosis, you may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed talking about it with others. But as with many conditions, talking about what you’re going through can be a big help.

Sarah Ciuffetelli, who has been dealing with psoriasis since she was a young child, told SurvivorNet that sharing her story and her experience with the condition turned into a way of coping for her. She created an Instagram account and was quickly met with praise and feedback from others who had similar struggles.

Learning to Live With Psoriasis: Opening Up to Overcome Stress & Shame

Sharing her experience with SurvivorNet, she explained, “I really started my healing, my mental healing journey, with psoriasis when I opened my Instagram account. I know that sounds really funny, but it was a secret account. No one knew it was me, my face didn’t appeal. It was a way of me showing the world what I looked like without actually revealing who I was.

“Through that, I was getting lots of positive comments, lots of people thanking me for sharing it and being so open about it.”

SurvivorNet’s My Health Questions: A Resource for Everyday Psoriasis Concerns

If you are living with psoriasis or helping a loved one manage it, please take advantage of SurvivorNet’s My Health Questions AI-powered tool.

It is designed to support patients with everyday questions and treatment options to manage flare-ups.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Could my symptoms be related to another condition?
• What treatment options do I have?
• Are there any lifestyle adjustments I should make?
• How often should I be monitored?
• How does psoriasis usually progress? Can it come and go?
• How often can flare-ups occur?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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