Cyndi Lauper, with her pixie-like charm and the 1983 hit song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” has always been a beacon of fun and freedom for women everywhere. She embodies style, empowerment, and individuality with her vibrant hair, unique fashion, and lively, carefree personality.
However, behind the bright colors and playful voice, Lauper faces a serious challenge—psoriasis, a chronic skin condition so severe at times that, as she puts it, “it looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”
At 69 years old, Lauper recently opened up about her battle with psoriasis, which she’s been dealing with since her diagnosis in 2010. Psoriasis is a persistent skin condition that causes painful, itchy, scaly patches, affecting about 125 million people worldwide, including 8 million in the United States.
When Lauper first noticed the symptoms—like general pain and scalp irritations—she didn’t think much of it. But over time, these symptoms worsened, leading to both physical and mental distress. At first, she thought it was because of her frequent hair dyeing, but soon realized it was something far more serious.
Despite her struggles, Lauper remains unstoppable. She’s not just the voice behind hits like “Time After Time”; she’s also a fierce activist, touring musician, and a busy mom. Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper has dedicated much of her life to supporting the LGBT community.
In 2005, she wrote “Above the Clouds” in memory of Matthew Shepard, a gay student who was tragically murdered in Wyoming. She also launched the “True Colors” concert tour in 2007–2008 to raise money for LGBT foundations and other charities.
Lauper’s talents don’t stop there. Over her four-decade career, she’s won numerous awards, including a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy for her guest role in a 1995 episode of “Mad About You.” In 2013, she was invited as a special guest to President Barack Obama’s second inauguration to honor her humanitarian efforts.
She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Even with psoriasis, Lauper’s spirit remains unbroken. She’s learning to manage her stress—one of the triggers for her flare-ups—to keep the condition from ruling her life. During one of her toughest times battling psoriasis, she wrote the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical “Kinky Boots.”
This work won her the Tony Award for Best Original Score, making her the first woman to win in that category. The musical itself won five more Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
Lauper doesn’t shy away from sharing her story. In an interview with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), she spoke candidly about her journey with psoriasis. “I’ve never been very good at handling stress,” she admitted. To cope, she has adopted a holistic approach to stress management, both at home and on the road. She practices reiki, a Japanese relaxation technique, saying, “That helps me.”
Beyond reiki, Lauper keeps herself grounded through yoga, meditation, and taking walks outdoors with her dog or her husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997. Lauper encourages others to prioritize self-care, saying, “Taking care of oneself is not a bad thing,” and urges everyone to “make a little time for you every day.” She adds, “How about five minutes for you?”
Lauper’s resilience shines through, even in the toughest moments. “It’s really hard to get up again when psoriasis gets really bad,” she says. Sometimes, she would feel chills from not being able to control her body temperature, which can lead to hypothermia. Even resting didn’t bring much relief, and her pain was often made worse by those who dismissed it as “just a rash.”
“You don’t have to go through pain,” Lauper stresses. Psoriasis can be managed with topical, oral, or injectable treatments to ease its intense effects. She’s found significant relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx, saying she’s been “four years clear” since using it.
In 2017, Lauper opened up about managing her psoriasis with HealthDay. “It’s strange how you start wearing gloves or other items in the hopes that your psoriasis won’t show, but it doesn’t. I didn’t wear it with a sense of excitement or admiration. Everyone hides it, don’t they? The number of people who have it but keep it a secret could surprise you. It’s a topic worth discussing because it’s one of those things that is somewhat invisible.”
She continues to raise awareness through her podcast, “PsO in the Know,” where she interviews psoriasis sufferers, advocates, and celebrities who share their experiences with the disease. Now in its third season, the show is available on Stitcher, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Lauper isn’t alone in her battle. Many celebrities also face psoriasis, including Kim Kardashian, who was diagnosed at 30 and has spoken openly about her struggles. Her mother, Kris Jenner, experienced her first breakout in her late 20s and described it as “life-changing.” Other well-known figures with psoriasis include musician Art Garfunkel, actor Jon Lovitz, and Jerry Mathers, also known as “The Beaver.”
We’re fortunate to have role models like Cyndi Lauper, who use their platform to help others overcome their challenges. Her journey and contributions make the world a brighter place. What a brave and inspiring woman she is!
