There’s something enchanting about the pixie-like Cyndi Lauper, whose 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” became an anthem for women of all ages, urging them to embrace joy and spontaneity.
Lauper epitomizes coolness with her quirky personality, whimsical fashion, and vibrant hair, inspiring people to be true to themselves.
Yet, beneath her upbeat persona and distinctive voice lies a battle with a serious skin condition. Lauper has been dealing with psoriasis, an incurable chronic condition, since her diagnosis in 2010. At times, her psoriasis was so severe it felt as though “someone had thrown boiling water on me.”
Psoriasis is a condition that brings intense pain, itchiness, and discomfort, manifesting as scaly patches on the skin. It affects approximately 8 million people in the U.S. and around 125 million globally.
For Lauper, symptoms began with scalp irritations and general discomfort, which progressively worsened. Initially, she thought the itchy scalp was due to frequent hair coloring, but the persistent episodes caused both physical and emotional distress for the award-winning musician.
When she was diagnosed with severe psoriasis, Cyndi Lauper channeled her experiences into writing the music and lyrics for the Broadway hit musical ‘Kinky Boots”, which earned her a Tony Award for Best Original Score. She made history as the first woman to win a Tony solo in that category, and the show also took home five additional Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
In an interview with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Lauper openly discusses her journey with the autoimmune skin condition, aiming to raise awareness and support for others facing similar challenges.
“I’ve never been able to really manage stress.”she shared, noting that she has adopted a holistic approach to healing and stress relief, both at home and while on the road. She explored reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, explaining, “That helps me.”
In addition to practicing reiki, Lauper makes a conscious effort to stay grounded through meditation, yoga, and walks in the fresh air.
Wishing Cyndi Lauper continued strength and good health as she inspires us all with her resilience and creativity.
