CariDee English, winner of the 2006 season of of the TV show America’s Next Top Model, has courageously released photos of her recent severe psoriasis flare. (We’ve posted about this before but it’s worth taking another look.) English, who makes her living in front of cameras in an industry hyper-focused on image, has shown true grit in making these pictures available.
You can view some of her pictures along with an interview with her about her flare here, as well as see additional pictures here.
Let’s face it: educati
ng the public about psoriasis using celebrities is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it generates media exposure about psoriasis that would otherwise never occur. That’s the good news. But it also (until now) presented famous, smiling, well-insured stars with seemingly perfect skin as the ‘face’ of psoriasis. That is not, needless to say, the reality for most of the Psoriasis Cure Now community. Many of us are battling visible psoriasis, or high co-pays, or no insurance, or psoriatic arthritis, or pain, or all of that and more. These stark photos of a star with the kind of psoriasis many of us are facing or have faced, is a welcome reality check that will give the public at large a deeper understanding of the reality of psoriasis.
Our only gripe with this media coverage is that it appears to be glossing over what caused her flare. Other reports have suggested that her flare followed the removal of Raptiva from the market in June 2009. Raptiva was a biologic for psoriasis that led to several deaths among patients who had used the treatment for at least three years. She had reportedly been using Raptiva successfully. This, too, is part of the reality of psoriasis: that the treatments we use can have serious side-effects. In the case of Raptiva, it took several years on the market, and some 30,000 patients using it, before the medical community figured out that it led to fatalities.
So kudos to CariDee English for sharing her story with the public. We are glad her new treatment is working for her. And we hope she will tell more about what caused her flare in future media interviews.
[Read about other stars speaking out about psoriasis.]
Category: Impact of psoriasis, Patient Stories, Treatment
Tags: CariDee English
Thank you for sharing CariDee’s experience. Seeing an individual with public prominence share their flare in pictures broke down some of the feelings that no one else would understand. She is an amazing woman!
Thank you for sharing CariDee’s experience. Seeing an individual with public prominence share their flare in pictures broke down some of the feelings that no one else would understand. She is an amazing woman!
Thanks for this. I’m 32 living with this disease for 18 years and it’s nice to see psoriasis in a fashionable light. It’s hard to hide, but she has the ultimate confidence.
had it on and off since i was 16 years old. had it now for the last 4 years. i am 54. what i try to hide most of time, she showed the world. very couragous move and i thank her for bringing “Us” out of hiding. it does ruin ones life in many ways.
I have had psoriasis since age 17, am now 64. It is such a heartbreaking disease. The drug industry finally seem to getting the message about psoriasis but only someone who lives with this disease everyday can actually know how devastating it can be.
It first showed up on my elbow when I was just entering my twenties…I can’t even remember which one. Now, seventeen years later it covers both elbows and knees – often sporadically popping up on my face and hands…my calves. I try to tell myself that other people have bigger problems…but STILL. It is devastating on a deep level.
I’m soon to be 43 and have been living with psoriasis for 35 years. Had it so bad as a kid I would bend over and the patches would split and bleed. 75-90% coverage. I’m so glad that someone in the public eye had the courage to say they had it. Was cleared for about 8 years on methotrexate, but was giving me really bad nausea. Now I have it, and what amazes my regular doctors is that although I have it pretty bad, it’s REALLY good compared to when I was a kid
Have been opting for no treatment for years, but now may look into Stelara. Have some psoriatic arthritis now as well so might be the time to look.
Loved you on America’s Next Top Model and routed for you all the way and was so glad that you won!!!!
Caridee is amazing for doing this. I have had psoriasis for the last 10 years of my life and it’s a real struggle emotionally. Its nice to know your not alone and there are people who are battling the same disease. I was so disappointed recently to see Kim Kardashians reaction to her recent diagnosis. It sucks that she has it at the peek of her career but it would have been nice to see her display some strength and maturity as Caridee has. Education is the most important thing and I love that Caridee came out with this picture. She is and will always be stunning! Psoriasis or no psoriasis!
i am happy that psoriasis has been discussed, I have had it severely since the age of 7, being hospitalised a few times. No one quite understands how much it effects your life
Tired of Psorisis and its arthritis, really. But, when I compare myself to the others I understand I live happily more than the people I’v seen in my life. Believe me, the ones who have this disease are very clever and sensitive. Faraway from these words, I need miracle, I dont have a natural life
It is really hard to live with psoriasis while in college even though I have had it majority of my life it seems like college is really the breaking point because its so hard to go shopping with friends or hang out at the beach or the pool because of it. I really just wanted to say thank you because its not everyday that someone stands up and speaks out.
Feel real proud that you got to talk an post this pictures. because its true i have psoriasis too, and some people talk with out even knowing that its truly going on in your body.
Seeing english photos encourages my heart and i knw i can have a perfect skin despite everything am hopeful i trust in GOD. there is hope