There’s something enchanting about Cyndi Lauper, whose 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” became a universal anthem, encouraging women of all ages to embrace the song’s carefree spirit.
Lauper embodies coolness. Her quirky, carefree personality, whimsical fashion sense, and vibrant hair inspire people to be themselves.
Behind her lively and feel-good voice, however, the artist faces a serious challenge: psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that once made her skin look like it had been scalded with boiling water.
The legendary pop star, now 69, recently opened up about her ongoing battle with psoriasis, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2010.
Psoriasis can cause intense pain, itchiness, discomfort, and scaly patches. An estimated 8 million people in the U.S. and 125 million worldwide live with the skin disorder.
Lauper first experienced symptoms like scalp irritations and general discomfort, which worsened over time. Initially, she attributed the itchy scalp to frequent hair coloring, but the persistent episodes caused significant physical and emotional distress.
The “Time after Time” singer is a busy mother, touring pop star, and activist. Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper tirelessly supports the LGBT community. Her 2005 song “Above the Clouds” was written for Matthew Shepard, a gay student who was tragically murdered. She also founded the “True Colors” tour in 2007-2008 to support LGBT charities.
In addition to her advocacy, Lauper has a remarkable career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. Over four decades, she has earned numerous awards, including a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy Award for her 1995 appearance in “Mad About You.” She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and attended President Obama’s second inauguration as a special guest for her humanitarian efforts.
Despite her diagnosis, Lauper remains a powerful force. She refuses to let psoriasis control her life, managing stress to avoid flare-ups. While battling severe psoriasis, she wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway hit “Kinky Boots,” earning a Tony Award for Best Original Score, making her the first woman to win a Tony in that category alone.
In interviews, Lauper candidly discusses living with the autoimmune condition, hoping to help others. She’s adopted a holistic approach to manage stress, studying reiki and making time for meditation, yoga, or walks with her dog and husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997.
“It’s not a bad thing to take care of yourself,” Lauper says, encouraging people to make time for themselves. She acknowledges the difficulty of living with psoriasis, recounting how severe outbreaks made it hard for her to function, with some dismissing the condition as “just a rash.”
Lauper emphasizes that treatments, such as topical medications, oral drugs, or injections, can alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. She found relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx and, as its spokesperson, she proudly shares that she’s “four years clear.”
In her podcast “PsO in the Know,” Lauper discusses living with psoriasis with celebrities, advocates, and patients, offering insights into the condition. The podcast, now in its third season, is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and Stitcher.
Lauper isn’t alone in her struggle; celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Art Garfunkel, Jon Lovitz, and Jerry Mathers also live with psoriasis. We are fortunate to have role models like Cyndi Lauper, whose bravery and talent continue to inspire us.