La La Anthony has worked in the entertainment industry since she was a teenager, so she knows a thing or two about what it’s like to live in the spotlight. Behind the scenes, La La has been living with plaque psoriasis for more than 10 years. Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 6 million adults in the United States. It shows up on the surface of the body, but unlike some skin conditions, it starts with inflammation inside the body, which causes uncomfortable, itchy patches that most commonly appear on the elbows, knees and scalp.
Many people are prescribed topical treatments like creams or ointments to help manage their plaque psoriasis. While these topical medications may provide some relief, they only treat the symptoms of the disease – not the inflammation at the root – and can be messy, sticky, and inconvenient to apply.
La La Anthony shares a candid look at how plaque psoriasis affects her life.
La La understands how plaque psoriasis can affect both big and small moments. Here, she reflects on three moments in her life when she realized she needed to be open with her doctor about what she was experiencing.
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Before La La was diagnosed, her family and friends minimized her symptoms as “just a skin thing.”
“When I first started experiencing symptoms of plaque psoriasis, I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was just dandruff, or dry skin, because I mostly experienced it on my scalp and behind my ears. No one around me knew what it was – those close to me all recommended ‘quick fixes’ like drinking water and putting on lotion before bed, but nothing I did seemed to help my skin feel better. I even tried a prescription shampoo, but it required daily hair washing – while that works for some, that did not work with my hair or schedule. It was frustrating that those around me didn’t understand what I was going through and minimized my condition. Because of that, I even started to minimize it myself, but deep down, I had a gut feeling that there was something going on that needed to be addressed.”
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She found herself getting distracted by her skin before big events.
“A lot of my life is public, and people are used to seeing me on camera – but some of my biggest struggles with plaque psoriasis are in the moments where no one is watching. Like leading up to this one big premiere – I remember I was hyper-aware of all the photos that were about to be taken, and it was distracting for me before the event. I didn’t want anyone to see my skin and think ‘what is that?’ There have been times when my plaque psoriasis would influence what I wear, or how I do my hair or my makeup. In many ways, it’s on the inside that counts – but if you’re tired of hiding your patches with your hair, or overthinking what to wear because of your skin, I encourage you to talk to a doctor about how your symptoms are really affecting you.”
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A personal conversation with her son inspired her to be honest about how she was feeling.
"Plaque psoriasis can be frustrating, even if you don’t have a lot of it. I remember on days when my symptoms were bad, my son would look and say, ‘what’s that?’ – kids notice just about everything, even when you least expect it. I tried to turn it into a positive teaching moment for him and educate about how there’s more to people than what meets the eye, but if you feel like a patch is the only thing people see, and then someone points it out, it can be tough! Those conversations and moments inspired me to not dismiss how you’re feeling whether you have a couple patches, or a lot. Everybody’s experience is different, and I'm still on a journey to find something that works for me long-term, but the important thing is that I haven't given up – and neither should you. Be open with your doctor about your goals and needs.”
To interact with La La in her new video, access resources to help facilitate an open conversation about plaque psoriasis treatment with your doctor and learn about an oral treatment option, visit MomentsWithLaLa.com. La La has been compensated by Amgen for her time.
