I was chatting to the TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, sitting on the sofa at GMTV when the camera zoomed in for a close up of my guardian angel pin. Glinting in the light was a fleck of white skin, obvious to the millions of viewers tuning in. Like flakes of dandruff, the flaking skin from my scalp sheds several times a day, causing an embarrassing drift of scales which is difficult to hide.
As an author I can hide away my flaking skin condition for much of the time. Sitting at my desk in my pretty conservatory at home, no one can see the white scaly skin which covers my elbows, knees and typically my scalp. At the moment it’s going through a ‘challenging’ stage. The condition will suddenly flare up with no apparent cause.
Actually for me, stress will encourage my skin to shed more quickly and following the death of my father early this year my skin is working overtime. Most of my arms and legs, my back and even small areas of my hands and face are now covered in the white scales of silvery skin which appears in dots which grow in size.
I have to find ways of hiding my condition constantly, especially when I am making public appearances. My job has a more glamorous side. I regularly meet celebrities and talk to large groups of people in my work on ‘positive paranormal experiences’. I am regularly interviewed for magazines, the national press, TV and radio. Full-size publicity photographs are used to illustrate features and I’ve even appeared on the cover of magazines.
Treatment of the condition usually consists of steroid creams and paraffin based gels. These messy preparations take time to apply and it’s easy not to bother. Spending time in the sun helps many and others swear by the healing properties of the Dead Sea salts. For me the most affective treatment has been occasional use of a sun-bed. I am aware of the dangers. A relative has recently had skin cancer so swapping one condition with another is always a worry. New treatments are available all the time though. A new pill and injections are suitable for some…although as they are very expensive, doctors only prescribe these new wonder-drugs for people who have tested every other type of treatment. ‘Protocols’ have to be followed so I haven’t been selected yet, even though I’ve had psoriasis for over 17 years!
Psoriasis is never completely curable although some lucky people have long periods where the condition is in regression. I have learnt to cope, having publicity photographs taken when my skin is ‘not too bad’. The difficulty always arises when a magazine want to send a photographer round and take their own shots. I always panic.
Glamorous evening events are easier in a way. Full length gowns and sparkly shawls cover most problems and I always wear heavy ‘TV’ style make-up. At public events I am often asked for my autograph and these days everyone carries a camera phone and want me to pose with them….luckily the quality of images on most phones is still poor but technology is catching up.
Most days I console myself with the fact that we all have ‘something’ we aren’t happy about. Confidence is my biggest friend and I’m determined to live my best life. I not only live with psoriasis but I am determined to thrive with it.
About Jacky
Jacky Newcomb is columnist and an award winning Sunday Times best selling author of eight books. Her latest release is ‘Angel Kids’ priced £7.99 and published by Hay House. For more information about Jacky and her work visit her website: www.JackyNewcomb.com
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic reoccurring skin disease which affects around 2% of the population. The condition is non-contagious and appears as plaques of skin caused by excessive skin production. The silvery scales shed regularly, often leaving areas of bleeding cracked skin.
