Psoriasis is considered to be a chronic skin disorder characterized by frequent episodes of redness, itching, and thick, dry, silvery scales on the skin. There may be periods of remission but in many cases the individual may have to deal with periodic flare-ups. There is no single cause for developing psoriasis and there is also no known cure. People who are diagnosed with psoriasis must face a lifelong battle with their condition. It can be a very difficult disorder to cope with both physically and emotionally. The sufferer of psoriasis may feel that they are all alone in their battle yet it is estimated that nearly seven million Americans are currently living with psoriasis. Celebrities are included in this population of people who suffer from psoriasis. Even the rich and famous are susceptible to developing a chronic skin disorder.

Although there may be more celebrities than we know who have psoriasis, some may be reluctant to speak publicly about their condition due to the fear of stigma. The following celebrities have not only talked openly about their diagnosis, but they have also been a part of national campaigns to promote awareness about psoriasis.

Jon Lovitz

You may know Jon Lovitz as an actor, comedian, and all around funny man. But did you also know that Jon Lovitz has been living with psoriasis for over a decade? He is now part of a public service announcement educating the public about psoriasis called Are you Serious?  Jon first thought that he had some sort of rash when he discovered some red spots on his skin. When the spots spread to half of his body and all over his scalp, he sought the expertise of his dermatologist. He was then diagnosed with severe psoriasis. Jon does what he does best, he uses his comedy to bring awareness of psoriasis to the general public and reduce stigma. You can check out Jon’s parody of Maroon 5’s song, “This Love” on the Serious about Psoriasis website.

LeAnn Rimes

When you see photos of LeAnn Rimes, the Grammy-Award-winning country music singer, you might never suspect that she suffers from psoriasis. At one point in her life, her psoriasis covered over 80% of her body. LeAnn has had to deal with her psoriasis since childhood and spent many years hiding her skin disease. But nowadays she is very vocal about her skin condition in hopes that it will inspire other sufferers to get the help and treatment they need. In a Shape Magazine interview  LeAnn talks about how she has learned to manage her psoriasis through lifestyle changes as well as treatment from her dermatologist. Some of the lifestyle changes she has adopted to help decrease psoriasis flare-ups include lowering her stress, working out, and eating a gluten-free diet. LeAnn is part of a national campaign sponsored by the National Psoriasis Foundation called, Stop Hiding and Start Living.  The primary message of this campaign is to for psoriasis sufferers to stop hiding and start learning how to manage their psoriasis with the help and support of others.