Cyndi Lauper's 'awful' health condition that covered 'whole body'

Cyndi Lauper has candidly discussed her "awful" health struggle with psoriasis, which she kept secret for years before seeking medical assistance. The 71 year old American music legend, set to appear on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One tonight, admitted to enduring a painful ordeal as she took drastic steps to hide her condition from the public eye.

She resorted to spray painting her skin for TV spots and had bespoke outfits made for her live shows. Cyndi, who wowed crowds at Glastonbury in 2024, was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis in 2010.

It took her a considerable time to find a specialist who could manage her condition effectively. According to the NHS, plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease, marked by dry, scaly skin lesions that typically appear on elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back but can develop anywhere on the body.

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These plaques can be itchy, sore, or both. Speaking to Prevention, Cyndi revealed the extent of her suffering: "It wasn't just a rash for me. It's my whole body," adding that she tried to adapt her wardrobe to cope with the flare-ups.

"When I was just living with it, it was flared [up] on the back of my arms. I thought, 'Here's a good idea, I'll wear shirts that open in the front so I don't look like Mother Cabrini, all covered up'... Then, of course, [the psoriasis] moves."

Cyndi has candidly opened up about her struggles with psoriasis, admitting she once used spray paint to cover up her condition for TV appearances before seeking medical help. She's previously spoken about the severity of her flare-ups, saying: "When psoriasis gets really bad, it's really hard to get up again," and recalled a time when it covered most of her body and "looked like someone threw boiling water on me."

The star also discussed how she tried to conceal her psoriasis with high-necked clothes and turtlenecks, joking that she looked like a nun. Makeup only worsened her skin texture, so she turned to self-tanner in an effort to "look normal".

For her stage costumes, Cyndi incorporated mesh netting to hide her affected skin. Last year, Cyndi announced her farewell tour, which is set to take place later this year. She is set to appear in Birmingham on February 14.