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17 Inspiring Quotes About Living with Psoriasis

By Corinne O'Keefe Osborn
March 31, 2021

When you’re in the middle of a psoriasis flare, it can be tough to look on the bright side of things. Fortunately, there are folks out there who can help! More than 8 million Americans have psoriasis, including some pretty famous ones. See how celebs and public figures with psoriasis deal with the tough days, and get a little advice from mental health pros, too. Time to bask in some serious inspiration.

On Advocating for Yourself

“You have to empower yourself to be your own best advocate. Don’t do what I did, living in silence and depression for months on end. You can get to a better place.”

― Katie Lowes, actress, to Psoriasis.org

On Body Positivity

“I was going to start Facetuning the spots out, but then I was like, 'No, I'm just gonna post it.’ Your body is fierce, it's cute, it's fine, and the more people that know about psoriasis, the more you'll stop having to tell cute guys about it when you take your top off."

― Jonathan Van Ness, TV personality, in Allure

On Staying Confident

“Say to yourself out loud the qualities you like the most. If you say it long enough and loud enough, you can make yourself believe just about anything! So, stick to what you love about yourself rather than to what you don’t. If you can’t find anything, ask a friend! They will help you see the beauty you possess.”

― Christy Pennison, Licensed Professional Counselor, to us

On Putting Yourself Out There

“I will not live my life in silence and shame. I wasted the first 21 years doing that.”

― CariDee English, model, in an Instagram post

On Tackling Challenges Head-On

“I’m the kind of person who doesn’t shy away from challenges; psoriasis is just another challenge in my life.”

― Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer and gold medalist, to Health.com

On Maintaining Control

“If you have psoriasis, you can't let it ruin your life or get the best of you. You have to do what you can to make sure you are comfortable, but not let it take over."

― Kim Kardashian West, TV personality and influencer, in Poosh

On Overcoming Depression

“I'll never be ashamed to say that this affected me in two aspects of my life. Both physically and mentally. One of my biggest challenges along with controlling my disease, was overcoming my depression. It is incredibly important to take care of yourself mentally just as much as physically.”

― Janelle Rodriguez, influencer, in an Instagram post

On Silencing Your Inner Critic

“Just remember, our inner critic is often louder than anyone on the outside will ever be. The first step to putting yourself out there is reminding yourself you are not your psoriasis. There is way more to you!”

― Christy Pennison, Licensed Professional Counselor, to us

On Embracing Your Imperfections

“You just have to embrace the fact that this is one of your imperfections and that things could be so much worse.”

― Stassi Schroeder, TV personality to TODAY

On Honesty

“It is my pleasure to educate others about my disease so no little girl or boy feels the need to isolate or be told they can’t conquer their dreams. I have exposed myself as I am.”

― CariDee English, model, in an Instagram post

On Living the Life You Want

“Psoriasis is one of those diseases that you don’t associate with beauty or confidence. But I want sufferers to know: They can have style, they can have beauty, they can have comfort, and they can live with this disease.”

― Stacy London, TV host, to Spry Living

On Sticking with It

“Don't be embarrassed. See a dermatologist. A lot of people with psoriasis give up, but don't. Find out what works best for you."

― Jon Lovitz, comedian, to Psoriasis.org

On Asking for Help

"I encourage everyone with psoriasis to see a doctor. Find a treatment plan that works for you. If you are feeling isolated, reach out and ask someone for help. Remember, you're not alone."

― LeAnn Rimes, singer, to Psoriasis.org

On Knowing You’re Not Alone

"I like to tell myself that there's something empowering about knowing that you're not alone. There are more than [8 million] in the United States who have psoriasis, so clearly none of us are alone in this. You have to control psoriasis, not vice versa."

― La La Anthony, actress and TV personality, to Everyday Health

On Self-Esteem

“Focusing on increasing one’s overall level of self-esteem is an important goal for people with psoriasis. When self-esteem increases, minor physical imperfections tend to become far less important.”

― Dr. Carla Marie Manly, psychologist, to us

On Not Letting Psoriasis Define You

“To have psoriasis is a part of me, it’s not defining me. It’s like having brown eyes or a gray streak.”

― Stacy London, TV host, to Healthline

On Doing the Work

"You can’t just lay in the dark and get depressed and feel like the disease has won. You can win, just get the information and get help—because suffering in silence really sucks.”

― Cyndi Lauper, singer, to People.com

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