LeAnn Rimes Finished "Hiding"

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LeAnn Rimes photo by David McClister, courtesy of Curb Records.


Sept. 4, 2008 — Is LeAnn Rimes is becoming the face of psoriasis? Sort of. She’s part of a national campaign, Stop Hiding From Psoriasis, that began yesterday with a goal of curtailing the stigma that’s attached to the skin disease.

"Having battled severe psoriasis my whole life, I have gone to great lengths to hide my condition, especially as a performer," she says. "Over the years, I've had to deal with the emotional and physical toll psoriasis has had on my self-esteem and confidence, but today I no longer let psoriasis define who I am or how I feel about myself. I hope by joining this effort and sharing my story, others will be empowered to stop hiding from their psoriasis and better manage their disease and not let it limit them or their aspirations."

Psoriasis is a much-misunderstood condition. It’s marked by patches of red, scaly skin that may crack and bleed. It’s not contagious, though many people act out of the fear that it can be caught. And those who have it often feel as if they’re under a microscope when they suffer an outbreak.

Information about psoriasis is available at Stophiding.org.

The campaign marks the second time LeAnn has gone public with her personal skin issues. In 2004, she revealed she had been afflicted with eczema.

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