Psoriasis Awareness Month: Kris Jenner has coped with chronic disease for 34 years like a boss
There are a number of illnesses that come attached with a stigma. Sometimes people don't open up about their health conditions to escape the unsolicited sympathy and advice from others. But what does one do if their condition very visibly marks various parts of their body with red and raised patches lined with silvery scales? Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can do that to an affected person's skin. It is not contagious and is more common than people would like to believe. This widespread condition affects as many as 125 million people worldwide.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and an estimated 30% of people who are affected by it, also develop psoriatic arthritis. However, it doesn't mean that it has to be the end of the world and people can still reach for the stars if that's what they aspire to do. One shining example of this is Kris Jenner. She single-handedly manages one of the biggest reality stars in the country right now, Kim Kardashian, (who also battles the condition) and at 64 years of age, nothing seems to be stopping her, not even her psoriasis. She was diagnosed with the condition at 30 and its been 34 years since then and there's nothing that the woman can't do. If you are an avid follower of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' you'd know what we are talking about. She is as active as any of her children, she parties if she has to, she's jet-setting around the world and it's not for nothing that she's inspired the Internet joke about her working harder than the devil does.
With the advent of social media, open discussions about many topics that were deemed uncomfortable have been initiated. This also includes psoriasis and there are a lot of celebrities and social media influencers who have detailed their battle with the condition, often sharing photos and other experiences, in a bid to normalize it and other epidermal conditions as well as create a safer environment for others who are afflicted too.
August is Psoriasis Awareness Month and it brings an opportunity for survivors and activists to share tips and raise awareness about the genetic disease. In this column, we highlight the struggles of celebrities and talk about preventative and cure measures.