Kim Kardashian On What It's Like To Live With Psoriasis

Bravery is to find the strength to bring some measure of comfort to others as we go through our challenges, to reach out with our stories and pat someone else in the back saying, you are strong enough. That is what Kim Kardashian did in her essay published in Poosh, a website founded by her elder sister, Kourtney Kardashian. “If you have psoriasis, you can’t let it ruin your life or get the best of you,” she wrote. “You have to do what you can do to make sure you are comfortable but not let it take over.

Kim Kardashian West On Psoriasis And The Journey So Far

“I live a healthy life and try to eat as plant-based as possible and drink sea moss smoothies. With all the stress in life, I try to make sure I take time for myself so that I am centred and keep my stress to a minimum.”

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. The immune system is designed to protect humans from diseases and infection. But sometimes in autoimmune conditions, it gets confused and attacks healthy parts of the body. And It’s estimated that around one in five people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

Kim Kardashian's Psoriasis travelled a similar path. A few years after she received treatment her Psoriasis disappeared and returned in her early thirties.  According to Kim, it "fully went away" during both her pregnancies with her daughter and son Saint and North. But it returned this year and became "extremely bad." “It covered my whole face and a majority of my entire body,” the 38-year-old said.

She started feeling severe pain in her hand and it became so bad that at some point she couldn't "pick up a toothbrush." Suspecting that she may have developed rheumatic arthritis, she went to see a doctor. At first, the blood test came back positive for rheumatic arthritis and lupus, only for her to later discover that it was a false positive and she has developed psoriatic arthritis.

It’s similar to arthritis that can stem from psoriasis and it can come and go,” Kardashian West said.

According to Versus Arthritis, the symptoms of Psoriatic arthritis include pain, swelling, and stiffness in and around the joints.

Can Psoriasis Be Cured?

There is no cure for psoriasis, it can only be managed whenever an inflammation occurs. However, it is known to often go into remission on its own some times. The condition is also hereditary, that is you must have inherited it from someone in your family. It also requires that you try to live on a healthy lifestyle and diet.  The essay by Kim Kardashian West On Psoriasis is a good way of raising awareness about the condition.

Parents should also have in mind that Psoriasis presents differently on African skin. So you might be unaware that you have this condition. If some of the symptoms appear, please see a doctor.

Read also: Vitiligo Symptoms: White Patches On Skin, Others.