Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes red, scaly skin, affects 7.5 million Americans. Here are celebrities who live with the skin condition. Living with psoriasis—the chronic autoimmune disease that causes scaly, red, and inflamed skin—isn’t easy, but it helps to know that there are plenty of people out there, celebs included, who are dealing with the same frustrations and struggles.
— Read on www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/celebrities-living-psoriasis-jonathan-van-151200611.html
Tag: #spoonie
VTAMA by Dermavant Review
VTAMA (tapinarof) is a non-steroid prescription cream by Dermavant. FDA approved for psoriasis in May of 2022. Also seeking approval for Atopic Dermatitis in the near future. Tapinarof works by supporting the skin barrier proteins on the surface of the skin. Tapinarof increases the antioxidant activity while decreasing the oxidative stress levels in your skin. The active ingredient in VTAMA helps fix the imbalance in your immune system by supporting the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR).
Most of us with Psoriasis would agree when the doctor prescribes another topical prescription we would roll our eyes. Because we know it’s not going to work, and if it does work after prolong use it makes matters worse. Well I’m here to tell you from my experience this prescription medication VTAMA, has been delightful. It has always been my mission as an advocate to inform others about successful treatment options. This treatment is a 10 plus in my view. From my rating perspective it covers all the bases. It’s super safe and very effective. I only applied a little amount each day for about eight days and my spots disappeared. And they stayed that way after I stopped treatment. It’s been almost two months. You read that right. Now I’ve had psoriasis for over 30 years and no product has ever produce these results that fast with lasting results. And absolutely no side effects. It behooves you to ask your doctor about this wonderful new product made available to you by Dermavant.
Now you might be thinking I’m being sponsored by the company to say this, I’m Not! This has been my personal experience. I’m committed to our community and I will continue until there’s a cure. Psoriasis stole a large part of my peace, and this is my way of winning it back. Hope my experience helps you. #psoriasis
Empowering Psoriasis Patient
The landscape of the psoriasis and psa community is changing rapidly. In the last five years I’ve seen more progress than can be imagined. Everything seems to be in place for the development of safer more effective treatments. I wouldn’t be surprise in the next twenty years scientists discover a cure. I call it “snowball research,” mainly because as we move forward the amount of research being done for our disease is growing exponentially. I believe social media is the hill that is the downhill catalyst helping us generate inertia and velocity towards our goal. Many patients are flocking to facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, wordpress blogs, to share their stories and pictures. Many have become passionate and obsessed posting in support groups and participating in studies.
Patients are only part of the equation. Pharmaceutical companies are competing for market share with newer safer medications. The National Psoriasis Foundation is the leading advocate for our community. I’m proud to say I am a member and have been for years. I do what I can to drive traffic to their website through our support group Overcoming Psoriasis. That’s where I met Maria Bascetta who is a personal trainer and health coach. She launched her own personal website at www.mariabascetta.com. I would like to share her story and pictures that she shared with me. In her own words:
“SO. I started noticing signs of autoimmune disease when I was young. Like 12-13 yrs old. Itchy scalp, eczema, hives all the time. Was diagnosed with mild psoriasis or eczema back then. Given tar shampoo, all the creams. Didn’t really work but skin didn’t get too bad.
Went away to college in DC at 18. Skin started to get worse around then. I wasn’t healthy. Smoke, drank, didn’t eat well. Then when I turned 20ish I started to get severe joint pain and all sorts of skin worsening symptoms. Got diagnosed with Lymes Disease after a year or trying to figure out what was happening. Met a nutritionist – she started helping me look at my diet. During the Lymes treatment which was heavy heavy antibiotics for over a year my skin got terrible and my joints got terrible. Was put on methotrexate which caused me to bruise all over and feel terrible. Skin cleared up. Took myself off the methotrexate and my joints and skin rebounded into worse than ever.
Found a Dr in Maryland (Dr Lawrence Green) – derm, who I really liked. Did Talconex, topicals. A course of light therapy with him. Took a while but my skin cleared. All the while working in the health industry and training people. My joints stabilized but were swollen a lot. I was in pain but was afraid to try anything after the methotrexate stint.
Went vegan, went paleo, cut alcohol, had quit smoking, started managing stress. Kept reading about what to do naturally. Did another course of light therapy when it came back. Worked but not as well. Continued topicals. It came back a year later. I dreaded summer. I covered up. My hands were swollen.
Bought my own light box … did that for a bout a year before I moved to Nashville in 2014 Oct. It worked. But it was getting hard to manage. Was blasting myself with light for over 30 min a day trying to get each body part. (smaller box). Ended up googling “new treatments” and reading about cosentyx and finding the facebook page.
Asked questions on the facebook page – met everyone. Got excited. Seemed safer than other meds and more successful. I always feared meds bc I am so young. (Im 32 now). Found a dr – Dr. Jennifer Lee in TN. Talked to her. Called my old doc, Lawrence Green who is using Cosentyx for patients. Made the jump in May of 2015. Dr. Lee has been great. I cleared by mid June (started may 7th ish). My joints don’t hurt. My skin looks beautiful. It has been life changing. Been on one pen for the last three months.
I am thankful that I never gave up. I kept waiting and hoping and staying positive. I competed in grip this year b/c my hands don’t hurt. I have some residual damage but it’s minimal. Being sick has given me so much empathy and so many gifts when it comes to working with people. I know what it’s like to want to hide / to want to stop / to be hurting but to be a very physical being. Movement has been and will continue to be my life in many forms. I am very grateful.”
I’m inspired by Maria and her motivation to succeed. If you want the support and the information to help you succeed I encourage you to join our group Overcoming Psoriasis on facebook. While there you will gain helpful tips to control your psoriasis and psa. You will be able to read about others and their challenges. The group is closed so others who are not members will not see what is being posted or written. The group is protected by five experience admins. We have successfully directed people to doctors that specialize in our disease. We discuss OTC treatments and Home remedies. We are a one stop support group. Nothing is left on the table. Everyone is treated with dignity and we have strict rules and guidelines to keep the rift raft from trying to sell you overpriced “miracle cures.” Thank you Maria for being brave to share your story.
Free product for Sharing
The winners of the Dermarest Contest are the following people. Corey Beth M, Wendy H. R., Corinne C., Tyson P., and Samantha C. Congratulations, the Dermarest product line has been shipped out and you should receive it no later then Wednesday of next week.
Five lucky individuals will be receiving free products from @Dermarest. All you have to do is share this post. The 5 people who generate the most interest will win.
I personally use all of the products by Dermarest. I happen to love their Psoriasis medicated moisturizer.
So it’s simple just share this to win.
Psoriasis Campaign for a Cure
Contest ends September 21, 2015
Make sure you hash tag #dermarest
#psoriasis #skin #health #spoonie #npf #skincare #beauty #chronicpain #chronicillness #chroniclife #awesome #psa #clearskin #CyndiLauper #everydayhealth #FF #pain #rash #creekyjoints #psoriasisproblems #cure #hair #scalppsoriasis #scalp #red #pain #rash #happiness #overcomingpsoriasis #PSORIASISCampaignforaCure
Opened to US citizens only.
Outstanding Leadership Award
Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Award Finalists
Volunteers are those who find the courage to transform the challenges and frustrations of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis into positive action. Volunteers are the faces and voices of the National Psoriasis Foundation’s work.
At our National Volunteer Conference, the Foundation recognizes several outstanding volunteers. These individuals bring creativity and commitment to fulfilling our mission. The result: Deep community impact that cannot be measured by numbers or dollars alone.
Please join us in celebrating these volunteer leaders. Their extraordinary efforts symbolize the thousands of other volunteers who embody the mission of the National Psoriasis Foundation, and who give us all hope that one day we will find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
NPF Volunteer Finalist Todd Bello
Todd Bello
Long Island, New York
Todd works tirelessly to create awareness for psoriatic disease and help those affected. He runs a psoriasis support page on Facebook called “Overcoming Psoriasis.” He dedicates his time to reaching out to others and provides information, support and experience in dealing with all the challenges of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. His smile can lighten anyone’s day and his positive attitude is truly inspirational.
Todd also assists others with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis through his participation in the Psoriasis One to One mentor program. He has become a fixture of the National Psoriasis Foundation New York Community Division and all its events, including fundraisers and educational seminars.
Todd has taken initiative to help in any way he can let others know about NPF resources. Todd’s passion and enthusiasm is contagious and he lifts the spirits of everyone he comes into contact with. Todd is a born leader who volunteers out of a deep passion for helping others and alleviating suffering.
Overcoming Psoriasis 