Aljaz Skorjanec health: ‘I was so ashamed’ Strictly star discusses his skin disease

LeAnn Rimes thanks fans for their support on her Psoriasis

Speaking on Decathlon’s new podcast, The Power of Ten, the star admitted that although he was diagnosed with the skin condition 12 years ago, he hadn’t felt comfortable discussing his experiences before.

“I was so ashamed of it in a way. It really brought my self-esteem down,” he admitted.

 “I figured that if I talk about it, it might make someone else feel a bit better about themselves.

“I’m the most at peace that I’ve been, specifically with the psoriasis.”

Psoriasis is a skin disease which causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp.

It is a common, chronic disease which has no cure and tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission.

Treatments are available to help a person manage their symptoms.

Different lifestyle habits can also be incorporated to reduce flare ups and there are numerous coping strategies to help one live better with the condition.

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Symptoms of psoriasis

Mayo Clinic lists the signs of the condition which include:

  • Red patches of skin covered with thick, silvery scales
  • Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)
  • Dry, cracked skin that may bleed or itch
  • Itching, burning or soreness
  • Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
  • Swollen and stiff joints

Stress and psoriasis

Opening up about the condition on the Steths, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll podcast with Dr Ranj Singh, Aljaz said his most significant indicator of when he’s feeling unwell or “stressed” is when his psoriasis flares up.

“My biggest show that something is not right is my psoriasis, [it’s the] first thing that flares up.

“I get more patches, or it itches sometimes, or it gets really red, and then I never used to get it on my scalp.”

Stress and psoriasis go hand in hand with stress making the condition worse, and psoriasis making one stress more.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways a person can reduce their stress levels and as such reduce their flare ups.

These could include:

  • Deep breathing
  • Meditation
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Yoga

The severity of psoriasis varies from person to person. For some it’s just a minor irritation and only appears as small parches.

But for others it can be itchy and sore and majorly affect their quality of life.

There are several different types of psoriasis, but one of the most common types of plaque psoriasis.

In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body.

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