Cyndi Lauper, the legendary musician recognized for her 1983 single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” has long inspired women of all ages with her message of self-expression and uniqueness. Lauper’s wacky, carefree personality, brilliant fashion sense, and distinctively colored hair make her a symbol of confidence and authenticity.
Behind her joyful music and distinct voice, Lauper is dealing with a severe challenge: psoriasis, a chronic skin condition detected in 2010. The disease was so terrible that it felt like “someone threw boiling water” on her skin. Psoriasis affects around 8 million people in the United States and 125 million people globally, with symptoms including discomfort, itching, and scaly areas. For Lauper, it started with scalp irritation, which she blamed on frequent hair coloring, but quickly progressed to more serious suffering.
Despite her challenges, Lauper remains a powerful force in music and advocacy. In addition to her music career, for which she has garnered multiple honors including a Tony, two Grammys, and an Emmy, she is an outspoken campaigner for human rights, motivated by her sister Ellen’s lesbian experience. She wrote the song “Above the Clouds” for Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager who was murdered in Wyoming, and founded the “True Colors” tour to benefit LGBT charities.
Lauper’s achievements go beyond campaigning and singing. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and was a special guest at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration for her humanitarian work. Her tenacity in the face of psoriasis is clear; even during some of her most difficult periods, such as while writing the Tony Award-winning score for the Broadway show “Kinky Boots,” she remained undaunted.
Lauper is open about controlling her disease, sharing her experience with the American Academy of Dermatology. She emphasizes the significance of stress management, which can cause psoriasis flare-ups, and offers her holistic approach, which includes techniques such as reiki, meditation, yoga, and spending time outside with family. Lauper encourages everyone to prioritize self-care, even if it starts with just five minutes each day.
In 2017, Lauper discussed her psoriasis experience, highlighting the condition’s obscurity and the stigma that typically surrounds it. She also runs a podcast called “PsO in the Know,” in which she interviews celebrities, advocates, and patients about living with psoriasis in order to increase awareness and provide support.
Other celebrities, like Kim Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner, have also been open about their struggles with psoriasis, highlighting the widespread nature of the condition.
Cyndi Lauper’s courage and advocacy make her a valuable role model. Her talents and path continue to inspire others, demonstrating that hardships can be overcome with resilience and elegance.