Psoriasis: 'I was just like a human leopard'
A psoriasis sufferer has described how the condition made her feel "like a human leopard". Psoriasis is an auto-immune condition affecting more than 125 million people worldwide. It causes skin to rapidly replace itself within days rather than the usual three to four weeks and the impact can be devastating.Giorgia Lanuzza, 34, from Basingstoke, has been living with the condition for two decades and said she has turned her struggle into a story of self-acceptance. The 34-year-old mum of two said it began when her father died when she was aged 13.
"He was in an accident - a motorcycle accident - and the grief just showed itself all over my body," she said. "The skin cells build up and it can cause red dots, sometimes flaky. There are many different causes. I think mine is through stress. "The weeks went on and the patches just spread, the dots gathered all over my body and soon I was just like a human leopard walking around. It was bizarre."
Ms Lanuzza said she suffered in silence, avoided school and kept her skin covered up."I was hiding this sadness and this psoriasis that was going on," she said."I did the only thing I knew really at the time, which was to joke and to make fun of myself before anyone else had the chance."A trip to Thailand in 2015 became a turning point, she told the BBC, when she got a throat infection and her psoriasis "just blew up". "The doctors said I was 97% covered - I had to take photos, I knew I needed to share these with the world," she said. When Ms Lanuzza posted the photos on social media, she said the response was "insane", and added: "It really just still fills my heart now."
'Beautiful part of me'
After learning to "embrace" her skin, she has written an autobiographical book, titled Different Skin, that she said was "partly self-help"."It's like a badge of honour, my psoriasis," she explained. "It really is just my strength now. It reminds me so much of my dad. "Even with the severe cases of psoriasis that I've had, [my dad's] been the one on my shoulder saying 'Giorgia, show the world and you can do it'."I love my skin so much, it's a beautiful part of me. To see my daughter touching my skin and fascinated by it, just embracing me and learning that it's fantastic to be different - and in fact 'my mummy's an author' - she's really proud."I didn't feel alone anymore. This is so right. This path that I've taken, that my dad put me on, it's the right path for me. "I have to keep my psoriasis, love it, love myself, and I'm going to teach the world how to do that as well."
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
I'm going to live until 150 by biohacking myself – here's how to do it at home in 8 simple steps
NOBODY on Earth has lived to see 150-years-old - but that doesn't stop people from trying to push the boundaries of ageing. Kayla Barnes-Lentz and her husband spend six figures a year on a range of pricey tools and treatments as part of their reverse-aging quest but claim there are eight ways to biohack your body on a budget from home. 7 7 7 Biohacking is the viral buzz phrase behind making small, strategic changes to your lifestyle that can slow down your biological clock. For Barnes-Lentz, a 33-year-old longevity clinic owner, it means "having agency over your health and... getting more vested in how you feel on a day to day basis". "The industry definitely is kind of defined by being a really wealthy person's game - or only for people with the means," she adds. "But the honest truth is that the practices that move the needle the most are quite basic, and they are low cost or free." Humming Barnes-Lentz recommends "humming for improving vagal nerve tone". Vagal nerve tone, the activity of the vagus nerve, is linked to numerous health benefits, particularly in regulating the so-called "rest and digest" system. A high vagal tone is associated with better cardiovascular health, smoother digestion, reduced inflammation, and a calmer nervous system. Sunlight exposure Natural light is a potent biohacker, according to Barnes-Lentz. It can affect everything from sleep quality to your mood. "We're very dysregulated from that these days because of blue light, staying up late watching television, and not really getting natural sun exposure early in the morning," she explains. What a budget biohacker eats in a day But getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight within the first half an hour of your day can help your circadian rhythm and boost serotonin - the happiness hormone. "And then additionally, you can also view the sunlight later in the day as the sun sets, because it further anchors your circadian rhythm," says Barnes-Lentz. "It essentially signals to your body like, 'OK, here's the sun in the morning. I'm trying to wake up'. "And then we see sunset, the colour range of the sun while setting is very different. So it signals to our body, 'OK, sunset, it's time to start winding down'." Blue light 7 Cutting down your screen time before bed is critical for limiting your blue light exposure, according to Barnes-Lentz. Blue light at night suppresses your natural melatonin production - the sleep regulating hormone. This in turn can upset your circadian rhythm. You can get blue light blocking glasses online for between £50 and £100. Although you can DIY them, buying cheap orange or amber safety glasses. Wearing these for between one and two hours before bed can block blue light spectrum from screens and blue-toned bulbs. You can also change your phone settings to make the screen glow a warmer tone later in the evening. Electrolyte and mineral water You can also make your own electrolyte and mineral-rich water at home just by adding salt - although Barnes-Lentz urges you make sure your salt is free of pesky microplastics. To replenish electrolytes, add about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of salt per liter of water. This provides roughly 300mg to 600mg of sodium, which can help your body retain fluids without overloading on sodium. Home-based cryotherapy You can indulge in cryotherapy at home, according to Barnes-Lentz, without splashing the cash on fancy, specialised chambers. Ice baths or cold showers can help you de-stress, as well as lower inflammation and support immune system functions - three things that can potentially extend your lifespan. "Cold showers can be beneficial for some people," explains Barnes-Lentz. "As a woman, I do mine more in the follicular phase [of the menstrual cycle] - that can give you a boost of dopamine and energy in the morning. "Then I dial it back a bit after ovulation... because we have higher levels of stress and we're recovering a little bit." Dunking your face in cold water - or applying a cold pack - for one to two minutes can also activate what's known as the diving reflex. This is a physiological response that slows the heart rate, diverts blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart, and slows breathing. While it is our body's attempt at conserving oxygen while underwater, studies suggest it calms the nervous system via the vagus nerve. Detoxing Barnes-Lentz suggests dry brushing or even trampolining for eliminating toxins from organs like the liver, kidneys, and skin. So you don't need expensive diet plans or supplements. Dry brushing involves using a bristle body brush all over your body. It not only helps to unclog pores in the exfoliation process - but it can detoxify your skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage. It supports the flow of lymph fluid, which can lead to reduced swelling, improved circulation, and a boost to the immune system by removing waste and toxins. It's the same reason why massages are good for you - only much cheaper. And trampolining does the same thing, according to Barnes-Lentz. "I also like a small rebound or trampoline," she says. "Which is good for removing the lymph fluid, which can also enhance detoxification." Your lymphatic system relies on muscular contraction to move fluid around the body. So the simple act of brushing or bouncing on a trampoline can help clear toxins from the body. 10,000 steps 7 Physical activity is a cornerstone of health - but it doesn't have to involve a gym membership or expensive equipment. Walking, or mastering your own body weight, is one of the best ways to 'hack your health'. "If there was one pill for longevity, it would definitely be exercise," says Barnes-Lentz. The benefits span from boosting blood flow, adding muscle, strengthening bones, improving brain health - and longevity as a whole. So getting in those 10,000 steps or more is worth it, according to Barnes-Lentz. "Exercise can be done pretty much free or low cost," she continues. "I actually just moved from L.A. to Austin and we're not near gym. "So I'm doing at home workout programming with essentially just a couple of weights and mostly body weight." Dr Kambiz Alavian, of Imperial College London and an associate professor adjunct of medicine at Yale University, agrees. 'In the longevity field, there are no magic bullets – but exercise might come as close as it gets to biohacking," he tells The Sun. "It's still being called the miracle drug. "That said, the science behind the effects of metabolic health, muscle mass, and cardiovascular health – and any interventions that can improve those – in extending health span is strong.' Bed before 10pm 7 Another trick that doesn't require expensive gadgets is improving you sleep cycle. Simple changes like establishing a sleep schedule and calming bedtime routine can make a significant difference. And Barnes-Lentz reckons you should be going to bed before 10pm every night, in a cold, dark room. "A routine can be something such as, eating earlier, so stopping eating three hours prior to bed to really allow your melatonin to produce naturally and to optimise circadian rhythm," she says. "That can be really helpful." Something as simple as a sleep mask can be a good low-cost tool for "optimising" your sleep. Even a few restless nights can weaken your immune system, increase your blood glucose and increase your hunger hormone, ghrelin, so you'll have more cravings, according to Barnes-Lentz. It can also "decrease motivation so you won't be as motivated to work out or eat healthy," she continues. "So sleep is a game changer."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Welcome to the 'National Health State': Half of all public spending will go on NHS by the end of the decade despite alarm at dire productivity... and bosses STILL want more
The growing stranglehold of the NHS over public spending was underlined today as Brits digest Rachel Reeves ' plans. A respected think-tank has insisted the UK is turning into the 'National Health State' after another major funding boost. In an extraordinary spree, the Chancellor allocated an extra £29billion per year and more cash for capital investment. Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, pointed out that amounted to 90 per cent of Labour 's extra public spending. She cautioned that continued a 'trend that is seeing the British state morph into a National Health State, with half of public service spending set to be on health by the end of the decade'. The latest huge cash injection comes despite concerns about progress in improving productivity in the NHS. Health service chiefs have also been warning that more money will be needed, with nurses already balloting for industrial action over an inflation-busting 3.6 pr cent pay offer. Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, which represents health organisations, said: 'Difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29billion won't be enough to cover increasing costs of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it. 'On its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, told the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester that the health service has done 'really well relative to other parts of the public service'. But he added: 'We all know it's never enough because of the scale of advancement, all the ambition, the day-to-day cost pressures... but I think everyone's starting to accept and understand we've got what the country can afford to give us. 'We really need to get better value for that money – it is broadly the equivalent of the GDP of Portugal, so it's a huge amount.' Ms Curtice said defence was another winner from the Spending Review, receiving a significant increase in capital spending while other departments saw an overall £3.6billion real-terms cut in investment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has made similar arguments about 'substantial' investment in the NHS and defence coming at the expense of other departments, although the think tank's director Paul Johnson warned the money may not be enough. He said: 'Aiming to get back to meeting the NHS 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament is enormously ambitious – an NHS funding settlement below the long-run average might not measure up. 'And on defence, it's entirely possible that an increase in the Nato spending target will mean that maintaining defence spending at 2.6% of GDP no longer cuts the mustard.' Ms Curtice added that low and middle-income families had also done well out of the spending review 'after two rounds of painful tax rises and welfare cuts', with the poorest fifth of families benefiting from an average of £1,700 in extra spending on schools, hospitals and the police. She warned that, without economic growth, another round of tax rises was likely to come in the autumn as the Chancellor seeks to balance the books. She said: 'The extra money in this spending review has already been accounted for in the last forecast. 'But a weaker economic outlook and the unfunded changes to winter fuel payments mean the Chancellor will likely need to look again at tax rises in the autumn.' Ms Reeves insisted she would not have to raise taxes to cover her spending review - but stopped short of ruling them out. She told GB News: 'Every penny of this is funded through the tax increases and the changes to the fiscal rules that we set out last autumn.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Urgent warning over ‘unsafe' American sweets with cancer risks
British consumers are being warned against purchasing Jolly Rancher sweets due to potential cancer risks, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The popular candies contain mineral oils, food additives that, when consumed regularly over time, may pose health risks, the FSA stated. These chemical compounds, including mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (Moah) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (Mosh), are added to confectionery items to prevent stickiness and create a glossy appearance. However, their use does not comply with UK law. Hershey, the US producer that owns the Jolly Rancher brand, has been collaborating with the FSA to remove all Jolly Rancher products from the UK market since 2024. Despite these efforts, some British businesses continue to import the sweets, the agency noted. The affected products include Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, " Misfits" Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies, the FSA confirmed. Consumers are advised to avoid these products to mitigate potential health risks. A food alert published by the FSA on Wednesday said: 'Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat them regularly. 'Moah can cause damage to DNA and has the potential to increase the risk of cancer, particularly if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time. Moah is a genotoxic carcinogen, therefore no exposure is without risk to human health.' It added: 'If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. 'Instead, dispose of them at home. If you are concerned, notify your Trading Standards department or environmental health department in the local authority you purchased it. 'For consumers, don't buy them, and if you've eaten these products, there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don't eat any more.' The agency has also urged UK retailers and food businesses to cease all imports and sales of the candy brand, and asked enforcement authorities to ensure the products are removed from the shelves. The FSA said: 'Food businesses who import these products are advised to discontinue import and distribution of products. 'Food businesses selling these products in the UK are advised to immediately stop sales, undertake product withdrawals and where there have been retail sales, to undertake product recalls. 'The Hershey Company, who is the brand owner, has taken action to remove these products from the UK market. 'We are asking enforcement authorities to make immediate contact with businesses who may have been supplied with or received the affected products, and to take action to ensure that the non-compliant and potentially unsafe products are withdrawn from the market and where sold at retail, recalled. 'We are also asking the local authorities to inform the FSA of product recall and withdrawal actions.'
