Cyndi Lauper, the vibrant pop star with her pixie-like charm and iconic 1983 anthem “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” has been inspiring women everywhere to embrace joy and freedom. She’s not just about catchy tunes; Lauper is all about style, self-expression, and self-empowerment, with her colorful hair, unique outfits, and carefree, fun-loving personality.
But behind the bright colors and infectious laughter, Lauper has been fighting a tough battle. She has a chronic skin condition called psoriasis, which at its worst, felt so severe that she described it as, “it looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”
Despite her cheerful voice and uplifting songs, Lauper has been quietly dealing with this painful, incurable condition since she was diagnosed in 2010.
Psoriasis is no small problem. It causes scaly patches, extreme pain, itching, and discomfort. It affects around 125 million people worldwide, including 8 million in the United States alone. Lauper first noticed symptoms like pain and irritation on her scalp, and at first, she thought it might be due to her frequent hair dyeing.
But as time went on, the symptoms got worse, leading to physical pain and mental stress.
Yet Lauper is not just known for her music. She’s also a dedicated activist, a touring superstar, and a busy mom. Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper has been a fierce advocate for LGBT rights. In 2005, she wrote “Above the Clouds” in memory of Matthew Shepard, a gay student who was tragically beaten to death in Wyoming.
She also started the “True Colors” concert tour in 2007–2008 to raise money for LGBT charities and support the community.
Lauper’s career has spanned over four decades, filled with achievements and accolades. She’s won a Tony Award, two Grammys, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy for her guest appearance on the TV show “Mad About You” in 1995.
In 2013, she was invited to perform at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in recognition of her humanitarian work. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Despite her struggles with psoriasis, Lauper remains a force to be reckoned with. She’s learning to manage her stress, which can trigger flare-ups, to keep her condition from taking over her life. Even when her psoriasis was at its worst, she composed the music and lyrics for the Broadway hit musical “Kinky Boots.”
Her work on the show won her a Tony Award for Best Original Score, making her the first woman to win in that category. The musical itself won five more Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
Lauper is open about her struggles and shares her journey to help others facing similar challenges. In an interview with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), she said, “I’ve never been very good at handling stress.”
She has turned to holistic approaches to help manage her stress both at home and on the road, including reiki, a Japanese relaxation and stress-relief technique. “That helps me,” she said.
In addition to reiki, Lauper stays grounded through yoga, meditation, and walks with her dog or husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997. Lauper encourages everyone to prioritize self-care, saying, “Taking care of oneself is not a bad thing,” and urging people to “make a little time for you every day.”
She suggests starting small, saying, “How about five minutes for you?”
Lauper knows how tough it can be when psoriasis gets really bad. “It’s really hard to get up again when psoriasis gets really bad,” she said. She sometimes experienced chills because her body couldn’t regulate its temperature properly, which can even lead to hypothermia. The pain was relentless, even when she rested, and it didn’t help when others dismissed her condition as “just a rash.”
“You don’t have to go through pain,” Lauper emphasizes. Psoriasis can be managed with topical, oral, or injectable treatments to reduce its intense symptoms. Lauper found great relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx, saying she’s been “four years clear” since using it.
In 2017, Lauper spoke about managing her psoriasis with HealthDay. “It’s strange how you start wearing gloves or other items in the hopes that your psoriasis won’t show, but it doesn’t,” she said. “Everyone hides it, don’t they? The number of people who have it but keep it a secret could surprise you. It’s a topic worth discussing because it’s one of those things that is somewhat invisible.”
Lauper also addresses the topic on her podcast, “PsO in the Know,” where she interviews other people with psoriasis, advocates, and celebrities who share their experiences with the disease. Now in its third season, you can find her podcast on Stitcher, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Lauper isn’t the only celebrity living with psoriasis. Kim Kardashian was diagnosed at 30 and has been open about her struggles. Her mom, Kris Jenner, had her first breakout in her late 20s and described it as “life-changing.” Other well-known figures with psoriasis include musician Art Garfunkel, actor Jon Lovitz, and Jerry Mathers, known as “The Beaver.”
We are lucky to have role models like Cyndi Lauper, who use their platforms to help others overcome their challenges. Her journey and contributions make the world a brighter place. What a brave and inspiring woman she is!
