A: Find a dermatologist who you're comfortable with—someone who's willing to try different things with you and is looking out for your overall health. And then I tell people to go through a dermatologist to find great support groups.
At StopHiding.org, we are trying to educate not only people who have it, but also the general public on what the disease is. A lot of people who have it don't get treated because they think it's just a skin disorder. But psoriasis is linked to so many different things: depression, obesity, heart disease, psoriatic arthritis. So we are trying to help people to get a handle on it before it gets out of control.
Q: Have any fans talked to you about their psoriasis?
A: The best part of the whole thing is being able to bond on a completely different level with fans. They come up to me all the time, and say, "Thank you for speaking out about it." People who aren't even fans of mine are all of a sudden into my music, because they have a deep connection with me through something else. Not once have I regretted talking about it.
Q: Now that everyone knows about it, are you worried about having a breakout?
A: People expect you to always be pretty and womanly, and I always think, "Oh god, what happens if I break out again?" But I know I will. This is not going to last forever. I think about having kids and what hormones can do to psoriasis. I'm definitely going to have to deal with it then. I've been talking about it, so I can't hide it anymore; the great thing is that people know, so now I feel like I don't have to. It's a huge relief.
Q: What's next for you?
A: I just finished shooting a movie called Northern Lights in Calgary. It's a Nora Roberts book that Lifetime is turning into a film, and I started working on a new record in the studio recently. Other than that, I am getting ready for the holidays and am just excited to be at home.
LeAnn's skin-care routine
- Don't take long, hot baths.
- Use fragrance-free lotion.
- Get 20 minutes of unprotected sun every day.
- Wear sunscreen any other time you are in the sun.
