A: No, my parents were great about helping me learn how to take care of it myself and how to cover it up. I would wear a pair of panty hose onstage to cover up the scales on my legs, so no one would see them.
The Difficulty of Getting Diagnosed
Liz had a hard time getting her doctor to take her seriously Read more
A: Yeah, for so long. On the red carpet I never wore short dresses; I would always wear long dresses or pants. My legs were my worst problem. I recently did a magazine shoot in a bikini. I never ever thought I would do that in my entire life. I never wanted to be seen in one—my dad had to drag me to the pool as a kid—and it was one of the highlights of my life to think, Oh my god, I can't believe that's me. To feel vibrant, to feel like a woman, to want to show off that I have clear skin, it's the happiest day of my life.
Q: What gave you the confidence to come out?
A: Once I found a great dermatologist, I felt like the disease wasn't controlling me anymore; I was controlling it. I started really taking care of myself, eating healthfully, and working out. I found great medication and a great doctor and began really living a healthy lifestyle. And once I saw the change in my life and my skin, I felt I had a responsibility to spread the word that there is help. It was something that was so negative in my life for so long; this is just a way to spin it into a positive for me and a lot of other people.
Q: How has it affected your personal life? Do you have any advice for people with psoriasis who want to be intimate and date?
A: You know, it's really hard. When my husband and I first met, my whole stomach was covered, and in the first 15 minutes that I met him, I told him, "I have this thing called psoriasis." He said, "Oh, one of my best friends actually has that." I got really lucky with someone who knew what it was. But number one, if you find the right person, they will accept you no matter what. Number two, you have to have the confidence within yourself to say, "This is who I am." You can't love someone else without being able to love yourself. That's where it starts, and if it's the right person, they'll get it. If not, it tells you it's time to move on.
