Pop Icon Cyndi Lauper Battles Secret Illness: The Painful Truth Behind Her ‘True Colors

There’s something magical about Cyndi Lauper, the lively artist behind the 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” a song that quickly became a global anthem, encouraging women everywhere to embrace fun and freedom.

Lauper is the definition of cool. Her quirky, carefree personality, playful fashion, and colorful hair inspire people with her message to always be yourself.

However, behind the playful voice that spreads joy to her listeners, Lauper battles a severe skin condition called psoriasis. At one point, it was so intense that, as she described, “It looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”

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The legendary pop star, now 69, recently opened up about her ongoing battle with psoriasis—a chronic skin condition that has no cure—since she was first diagnosed in 2010.

Psoriasis can cause severe pain, itching, discomfort, and rough, scaly patches on the skin. About 8 million people in the U.S. and 125 million globally live with this condition.

Lauper’s symptoms started as scalp irritation and general discomfort, which worsened over time.

Initially, she thought her itchy scalp was from frequently coloring her hair, but the symptoms continued, causing both physical pain and emotional strain for the award-winning musician.

The “Time after Time” singer is a busy mother, touring pop star, and activist.

Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper has become a strong supporter of LGBT rights, working tirelessly to advocate for the community.

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Her 2005 song “Above the Clouds” was written in honor of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student who was beaten to death in Wyoming. Lauper also started the “True Colors” concert tour in 2007-2008, which raises support for local and private LGBT charities and organizations.

Besides her advocacy, Lauper has an impressive career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. Over the past forty years, she has received many awards, including a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy Award for her role in a 1995 episode of the TV show *Mad About You*.

She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2013, her humanitarian work earned her a special invitation to attend President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

Despite her diagnosis, Lauper continues to stay strong. She is committed to not letting psoriasis hold her back and works on managing stress to avoid triggering flare-ups.

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When she was first diagnosed and dealing with severe psoriasis, Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical *Kinky Boots*, which won her a Tony Award for Best Original Score. She became the first woman to win a Tony in that category on her own. The show also won five more Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.

In a conversation with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Lauper openly shared her experience living with the autoimmune skin condition, hoping her story might help others.

“I’ve never been able to really manage stress,” she admitted, explaining that she now takes a holistic approach to healing and stress relief both at home and on the road. She learned reiki, a Japanese technique for relaxation, saying, “That helps me.”

Along with reiki, Lauper works to stay grounded by meditating, practicing yoga, or taking walks in the fresh air with her dog and her husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997.

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“It’s not a bad thing to take care of yourself,” Lauper said, urging people to always “make a little time for you.”

She encourages starting small. “How about five minutes for you?” she added.

Lauper speaks with resilience about her experience, explaining that “when psoriasis gets really bad, it’s really hard to get up again.” She shared that at times, she couldn’t regulate her body temperature, leading to chills that could result in hypothermia. Even when resting, her condition only worsened, and hearing people dismiss it as “just a rash” added to her struggles.

“You don’t have to suffer,” Lauper said. Treatments, such as topical and oral medication or injections, can help ease the often unbearable symptoms of psoriasis. For Lauper, she found relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx, and as a spokesperson for the medication, she happily shares that she’s been “four years clear.”

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In 2017, Lauper spoke with HealthDay about managing her psoriasis.

“It’s funny—you start wearing gloves, or this and that, hoping [psoriasis] is invisible, but it’s not. I didn’t show it off, like, ‘Woo-hoo, check this out!’ Doesn’t everyone try to hide it? You’d be surprised how many people have it and don’t talk about it. It’s one of those invisible things, so it’s good to talk about it.”

She shares more about it on her podcast *PsO in the Know*, where she talks with celebrities, advocates, and everyday people who offer insights on living with psoriasis.

The show is now in its third season and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and Stitcher.

Lauper isn’t the only celebrity with psoriasis. Kim Kardashian, now 42, was diagnosed at 30 and is open about her challenges. Her mom, Kris Jenner, 67, had her first outbreak in her late 20s and said it was “life-changing.” Other celebrities with psoriasis include musician Art Garfunkel, 81, actor Jon Lovitz, 65, and Jerry Mathers, 74, known as “The Beaver.”

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Stepbrothers Destroyed My Family Heirlooms – Am I Justified in My Revenge?

Hey everyone! Buckle up, because I’m about to spill the tea on a family drama that’s more tangled than a soap opera plot. I’m Willow, and what started as a regular day turned into a whirlwind of shattered heirlooms, stepmother drama, and a lawsuit that has left my family divided. Let’s dive in!

So, a bit of background: my mom passed away when I was just ten. It was a tough time, and things got even more complicated when my dad remarried less than a year later.

A little girl in a beret looking outside from the window | Source: Pexels

A little girl in a beret looking outside from the window | Source: Pexels

His new wife, Susan, jumped straight into having more kids, and in three years, she had three children. She also has two older kids from a previous relationship, who are now eight and seven years old. So, our house is pretty much a circus all the time.

I’m the only grandchild on my mother’s side and the only granddaughter on either side. My grandparents, especially on my mom’s side, love gifting me jewelry. When my mom died, I inherited her entire collection.

A little girl coloring with her grandparents | Source: Pexels

A little girl coloring with her grandparents | Source: Pexels

This jewelry isn’t just some random trinkets – it’s real, expensive stuff. I know it sounds a bit materialistic, but the whole collection is easily worth about $100,000. Each piece has a story, a memory, and they mean the world to me.

Now, onto the real issue. Recently, I came home after hanging out with a friend. As soon as I walked in, I noticed something strange – the oldest three kids had a pile of my jewelry on the floor of their playroom.

A close-up shot of a necklace in a box | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a necklace in a box | Source: Pexels

They were literally jumping on it, smashing it with their feet like it was some kind of game. I lost it. “What the hell are you doing?!” I screamed. The kids just looked at me, confused and a bit scared.

I ran to get Susan. She came rushing in, and the first thing she did was check if the kids were hurt.

“Are you okay? Did you hurt yourselves?” she asked, completely ignoring the mess on the floor.

“They destroyed my jewelry, Susan! Do you even care?” I was practically in tears, holding up the broken pieces.

A boy jumping in a room | Source: Pexels

A boy jumping in a room | Source: Pexels

Susan sighed. “They’re just kids, Willow. They didn’t know any better.”

“These aren’t just toys! They smashed heirloom pieces! Do you even understand how valuable these are?” I could feel my face turning red with anger and frustration.

Susan shrugged, clearly not understanding or caring about the significance of what had been lost. She then told the kids to stay in their rooms and instructed me to take my jewelry away from the floor.

A woman looking furious | Source: Pexels

A woman looking furious | Source: Pexels

Instead of saying anything to her kids, Susan turned to me and called me out for keeping my jewelry in my room in a box from where the kids could easily take it.

“You should’ve kept your jewelry somewhere safer, Willow. They’re just children. How could you expect them to know any better?” she scolded, her voice dripping with condescension.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you serious right now? They were in my room! How is this my fault?”

A sliver-framed round mirror and jewelry items lying on the wooden floor | Source: Pexels

A sliver-framed round mirror and jewelry items lying on the wooden floor | Source: Pexels

Susan shook her head and sighed. “Well, maybe if you didn’t flaunt your expensive stuff around, this wouldn’t have happened.”

She’s impossible, right? She could have apologized for what her kids did or taught them a thing or two about not snooping around or taking someone else’s stuff without their permission, but no. She chose to parent me instead.

I was at my breaking point. I was so fed up with Susan and her kids that I decided to take action.

A black jewelry box | Source: Pexels

A black jewelry box | Source: Pexels

Keeping my cool, I got Susan to repeat everything she said earlier so I could record it. This time around, she was louder and angrier. Lucky for me, the brunt of her anger was directed toward me, despite it being her precious boys’ fault.

“Honestly, Willow, you need to be more responsible. This is your fault for leaving your jewelry where they could get it!” she shouted, her face turning red.

I held up my phone, pretending to adjust my grip but making sure to catch every word. “So, you’re saying it’s my fault that they destroyed my things?”

An angry senior woman | Source: Pexels

An angry senior woman | Source: Pexels

“Yes, exactly! You need to learn how to share this house with everyone!” she snapped.

That was all the evidence I needed. I emailed the recording to my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, detailing what happened. I also attached pictures of the damage. My grandparents were furious.

They couldn’t believe the audacity of Susan and her kids. Now, they’re suing my stepmother for $50,000. And half of my family now hates her.

A woman sitting beside her bed while using a laptop | Source: Unsplash

A woman sitting beside her bed while using a laptop | Source: Unsplash

When my dad found out, he was furious. He stormed into my room, his face red with anger. “Willow, what were you thinking? Why would you involve the whole family in this? You should have come to me first!”

I looked up from my phone, trying to keep calm. “Dad, I did come to you. You didn’t do anything. Susan blamed me for their mess!”

He shook his head, clearly frustrated. “You should have let me work it out. This is a family matter, and now you’ve blown it out of proportion.”

An emotional father holding his daughter's hand | Source: Pexels

An emotional father holding his daughter’s hand | Source: Pexels

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Dad, they destroyed Mom’s jewelry. Heirlooms! And Susan didn’t care at all. She blamed me! How could I just let that go?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know it’s hard, but involving your grandparents and suing Susan is too much. We could have handled this internally.”

I felt a lump forming in my throat. “Handled it internally? Like how? By doing nothing? By letting Susan get away with it?”

A close-up of a woman wearing pearl earrings and a gold necklace with a pendant | Source: Pexels

A close-up of a woman wearing pearl earrings and a gold necklace with a pendant | Source: Pexels

“I would have talked to her. We could have found a solution,” he insisted.

“Talk to her?” I scoffed. “You mean like how she talked to me? Blaming me for everything? Dad, for once, I needed you to be on my side.”

His face softened a bit, but he still looked torn. “Willow, I love you. But you need to understand that Susan is my wife. The boys are my responsibility too. I have to keep the peace.”

A man sitting and thinking about his problems | Source: Pexels

A man sitting and thinking about his problems | Source: Pexels

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his words. “I get it, Dad. But keeping the peace shouldn’t mean sacrificing what’s right. I couldn’t just stand by and let them ruin everything Mom left me.”

He looked at me, a mix of sadness and frustration in his eyes. “I just wish you’d given me a chance to fix it.”

I shook my head, tears welling up. “I did, Dad. But you were too busy protecting them to see how much this hurt me.”

A young woman crying | Source: Pexels

A young woman crying | Source: Pexels

He didn’t have a response to that, and after a moment of silence, he left my room.

So now I’m left wondering, readers, was my father right? Should I have overlooked what Susan did and tried to resolve the matter at home without involving my grandparents? What would you have done in my place?

It’s just so painful to see my dad choose them over me, and I don’t know if I handled this the right way. I’m torn between feeling justified and feeling like I’ve made things worse.

A sad woman sitting outdoors during daytime | Source: Unsplash

A sad woman sitting outdoors during daytime | Source: Unsplash

What do you think? Am I in the wrong here, or was I right to stand up for myself and my mom’s legacy?

Did you enjoy reading this story? Take a look at another one below:

He didn’t have a response to that, and after a moment of silence, he left my room.

So now I’m left wondering, readers, was my father right? Should I have overlooked what Susan did and tried to resolve the matter at home without involving my grandparents? What would you have done in my place?

It’s just so painful to see my dad choose them over me, and I don’t know if I handled this the right way. I’m torn between feeling justified and feeling like I’ve made things worse.

A sad woman sitting outdoors during daytime | Source: Unsplash

A sad woman sitting outdoors during daytime | Source: Unsplash

What do you think? Am I in the wrong here, or was I right to stand up for myself and my mom’s legacy?

Did you enjoy reading this story? Take a look at another one below:

A smiling blonde woman sitting on a sofa looking at the camera | Source: Freepik

A smiling blonde woman sitting on a sofa looking at the camera | Source: Freepik

So, I’m 25, navigating this weird phase of life where my stepmom, Natalie, is a central figure. She’s only 37, and yeah, she married my dad just two years after we lost my mom. It’s been rough, not going to lie.

A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash

A bride and groom holding hands | Source: Unsplash

My mom was everything to me, and seeing Dad with someone else, especially so soon and so much younger? Tough to stomach.

But life’s all about the surprises it throws at you, right? Natalie does make Dad happy, which is something, I guess. So I’ve been trying to thaw the frosty air between us, aiming for at least a “normal” relationship.

A mother's day card beside a pen, macaroons, flowers, and a box near a coffee cup with saucer | Source: Pexels

A mother’s day card beside a pen, macaroons, flowers, and a box near a coffee cup with saucer | Source: Pexels

Mother’s Day was on the horizon, and I figured, why not make an effort? I booked a table at a nice restaurant for her and Dad and bought this pretty necklace.

It had her initials and a tiny tortoise charm hanging from it—Dad mentioned once that she’s nuts about tortoises. I was really excited to give it to her, thinking maybe, just maybe, it could be a step toward mending fences.

A gift bag | Source: Flickr

A gift bag | Source: Flickr

So, I handed her the gift, right? She opened it, looked at it, and her face twisted as if she’d just sniffed spoiled milk. And then, no kidding, she tossed it back into the gift bag.

A tortoise necklace with the initial "N" | Source: Flickr

A tortoise necklace with the initial “N” | Source: Flickr

Why did Avril’s stepmom treat her heartfelt gift that way?

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