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She is known for her stunning looks, making a living from her glamorous appearance.Reality TV star and model Jess Wright's flawless complexion and sun-kissed skin are the envy of women the length and breadth of the country.
But for years the 28-year-old TOWIE star has hidden a debilitating skin condition, dealing with it behind closed doors.
Psoriasis is an incurable condition affecting around 1.8million people in the UK. The inherited illness develops when the body's immune system attacks healthy skin cells.
Model Jess Wright, star of The Only Way Is Essex, was diagnosed with psoriasis in her early 20s
Speaking for the first time about her condition, the 28-year-old model and reality TV star, said it was so severe when she was first diagnosed that she couldn't wear black tops and dresses for fear of people thinking she had dandruff. She said it can 'wreck havoc' with her fake tan, leaving white patches where the psoriasis has flared up
Watching her father live with psoriasis left Jess consumed by a fear she would develop the red, flakey patches that characterise the condition.
When she was in her early 20s her fears were realised when the tell tale flaky patches appeared on her head.
She told MailOnline: 'It was five to six years ago, I was in a really stressful marketing job and all of a sudden I noticed flakiness on my head.
'It got worse, to the point where I stopped wearing black tops because I was so embarrassed people would think I had dandruff.'
'I remember feeling devastated because I had seen him struggle with it for so many years,' Jess added.
'My dad had it pretty much on most areas of his body, my fear growing up was always that I never wanted to inherit it. No one else in the family has it, dad was the first one and I followed.
The model said she was compelled to speak out about her condition as part of a new campaign 'Everyday Psoriasis', which aims to raise awareness of the illness.
'Looking back... I was so upset and worried about having psoriasis. But now it is just a part of everyday life, and I want other people to know that is the best way to be'
An e-book published by Exorex as part of the campaign, tells eight personal accounts of living with psoriasis, including Jess's.
'The book offers beauty tips and advice, as well as giving different people's perspectives,' she told MailOnline.
'I think it is just really good for people suffering the condition to see other people, including people in the public eye, live with psoriasis too, it can help knowing others are going through it.
'Psoriasis doesn’t just affect the way you look physically; it also has a huge emotional impact, at times making you feel lonely and isolated.
'I think it’s great that more and more celebrities are now coming forward about having psoriasis – it’s only by sharing stories and advice that we will realise that we’re not alone.
'Looking back when it first started, I was so upset and worried about having psoriasis.
'But now it is just a part of everyday life, and I want other people to know that is the best way to be.
'When you first discover you have it, it is stressful but it is not the end of the world and living with psoriasis doesn’t have to hold anyone back.'
Jess has shared her experience of living with psoriasis in a new e-book published by Exorex, 'Everyday Psoriasis', which aims to raise awareness of the condition, which affects around 1.8million people in the UK
Having watched her father cope with the condition, Jess told MailOnline she lived in fear of developing it as a child. She said behind her confident smile on the red carpet, her psoriasis can leave her feeling 'vulnerable and exposed'. But she said she has learned to live with it and refuses to let the condition control her life
When Jess was first diagnosed with psoriasis the flaky patches only affected her head. She said although it was isolated to her scalp, it was hard not to feel sorry for herself.
She said: 'Since then it has spread to my ears and arms, and I’ve asked “why me?” countless times; from when it first appeared, to every time I wore a short sleeved top or got too close to someone, or even when I’ve been pictured on a red carpet showing my arms.
'I’m sure nobody else has been able to spot it on those photos, but sometimes it’s all I can focus on.
'Everybody knows that my face and body are my job, but I think a lot of the fashion and beauty problems I encounter are relevant to many women.
'For instance, trying to make your hair look nice is incredibly difficult when some psoriasis scalp treatments make it smell so strong and look ‘wet’. And, as a lot of girls probably know, it can also wreak havoc on your fake tan when you’re going through a flaky stage!'
Jess said her boyfriend Ricky Rayment (right) has been really supportive since finding out about her condition
But she said away from the glare of the public, psoriasis affects her life away from the cameras.
'I've had a number of days where I haven't wanted to wear a new strappy top as I'm conscious of the patches on my arms, or I've pushed that little black dress to the back of the wardrobe because I'm worried about flakes,' she said.
'These might sound like very trivial issues to some, but when you’re living with them every day it’s really hard to not let them get you down.
'But, for any ladies reading this, let me tell you what I’ve learned, nobody is picking up on these niggles as much as you are.
'Do not get stressed out about it, just be open with people. The more you try to hide the condition, the more you worry people will notice, and stress is not good for psoriasis.'
PSORIASIS: AN EXPERT'S VIEW...
Dr Martin Godfrey, a GP from South London, said: 'Like so many psoriasis sufferers, Jessica has inherited her condition.
'A child with one parent with psoriasis has roughly a one in four chance of developing psoriasis too.
'The way it is inherited is complex and not yet fully understood.
'Many genes are involved, and even if the right combination of genes has been inherited psoriasis still may not appear
'However, the trigger for psoriasis to first appear is often an outside event, such as an infection, severe stress or an injury to the skin.
'In practise, for most patients who develop psoriasis, or for whom it clears and then comes back, no obvious cause can be detected.
'Jessica’s comment about stress is spot on. Stress is a major trigger for psoriasis.
'Scientists don't know exactly why stress triggers psoriasis but believe it has to do with the immune system.
'Dr. John Koo, professor of clinical dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, says inflammation is the body's way to cope with stress.
'Just as your immune system responds to injury and infection by sending out chemicals that cause inflammation, Koo suspects the immune system responds the same way to mental stress.
'In people with overactive immune systems, like in psoriasis, this can cause problems.
'Meditation, tai chi, exercise and in severe cases medication can reduce stress and in the process help bring the psoriasis back to more manageable levels.'
'A child with one parent with psoriasis has roughly a one in four chance of developing psoriasis too.
'The way it is inherited is complex and not yet fully understood.
'Many genes are involved, and even if the right combination of genes has been inherited psoriasis still may not appear
'However, the trigger for psoriasis to first appear is often an outside event, such as an infection, severe stress or an injury to the skin.
'In practise, for most patients who develop psoriasis, or for whom it clears and then comes back, no obvious cause can be detected.
'Jessica’s comment about stress is spot on. Stress is a major trigger for psoriasis.
'Scientists don't know exactly why stress triggers psoriasis but believe it has to do with the immune system.
'Dr. John Koo, professor of clinical dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, says inflammation is the body's way to cope with stress.
'Just as your immune system responds to injury and infection by sending out chemicals that cause inflammation, Koo suspects the immune system responds the same way to mental stress.
'In people with overactive immune systems, like in psoriasis, this can cause problems.
'Meditation, tai chi, exercise and in severe cases medication can reduce stress and in the process help bring the psoriasis back to more manageable levels.'
'One day my psoriasis was really bad, thankfully it's not anymore. But my boyfriend was like, "what is that"?
'I started crying and got really embarrassed but I explained what it was and he just asked me why I hadn't told him.
'When you have got a boyfriend it is hard having to explain the condition, it's not the most attractive thing for a girl.
'Ricky is really understanding, he is great. He took it in his stride.'
Jess said she counts herself lucky, in the time since her diagnosis her psoriasis has improved and though it now also affects patches on her arms and ears, it is not as severe as when she first developed the condition.
She said: 'It is one of those things, you have to try not to get stressed about it.
'The person standing next to you probably can’t see the little white specks on your top, and has probably not noticed your sore elbows or red patches, so as hard as it is; I’ve tried not to spend my time constantly worrying about it.'
As with many sufferers, Jess has found ways to cope with her condition.
Regular medication in the form of ointments, lotions and potions as well as prescription medicines, Chinese herbal remedies and exercise have all helped her bring her psoriasis under control.
But she said relaxing is the key, making time for the things she loves, from walking in the park to taking a bath or trying a new recipe in the kitchen and reading a good book all work wonders.
'I also find it really important not to burn the candle at both ends, and if I was going to offer one piece of advice for others with psoriasis this would be it. don’t be afraid to say “no” to that night out or work event if you’re tired and run down - it’s not worth putting your body under extra strain and your skin will thank you for looking after yourself,' she warned.
'I’m aware that mine is a relatively mild case compared to thousands of other people with the condition – so I also spend a lot of time feeling guilty for feeling sorry for myself which can be confusing.
'I think a lot of people with less-severe cases will relate to this – when you’re itching and flaking and feeling miserable it’s really hard to keep any level of perspective but the adult in you knows you have to.
'Everybody’s lives are full of stresses, and I try my hardest to not let psoriasis be one of them – because we all know that stress can be an enemy when it comes to this condition.
'I have psoriasis, but it doesn’t have me.'
PSORIASIS - THE INCURABLE SKIN CONDITION WHICH WRECKS CONFIDENCE
Psoriasis causes red, flaky patches of skin covered in silvery scales
The patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back but can appear anywhere on the body.
Around two per cent of the UK population, 1.8million people, are affected by the condition, which can start at any age.
For most, psoriasis develops before the age of 35 and the condition affects men and women equally.
The severity of the condition varies from person to person, for some causing a minor irritation, while for others it has a major impact on their quality of life.
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, or chronic, condition that involves periods when a sufferer will have no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by more severe outbreaks.
The condition occurs when the process by which the body produces skin cells is accelerated.
Normally the cells are replaced by the body every three to four months, but in psoriasis the process only lasts about three to seven days.
The resulting build-up of skin cells creates the patches associated with psoriasis.
While the condition is not fully understood, it is thought the increased production of skin cells is related to a problem with a person's immune system.
For those suffering with the condition, their immune system attacks healthy skin cells by mistake.
Psoriasis can run in families and there is thought to be a genetic element to the condition.
Many sufferers will experience symptoms following a certain event, a trigger.
A trigger can include injury to a person's skin, throat infections and using certain medications.
The condition develops when the body's immune system starts to attack healthy skin cells. Normally the cells are replaced by the body every three to four months, but in psoriasis the process only lasts about three to seven days. File picture
The condition is not contagious, so cannot be spread from person to person.There is no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can be used to improve symptoms and the appearance of the affected skin patches.
In most cases a sufferer will be prescribed creams and ointments to ease the symptoms.
If these prove ineffective, doctors may opt for phototherapy treatment. It involves exposing the skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.
In the most severe cases, systemic treatments are used. They are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the body.
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