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.”

‘I miss her everyday’ Hollywood actor from the 50s honours his late wife on social media

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood’s relationship was one of Hollywood’s most captivating love stories. Their romance began when Wood, then a rising star, and Wagner, already a well-established actor, met in the early 1950s. Their first encounter was at a studio when Wood was just 18 years old. The spark was instant, and they soon became one of Hollywood’s golden couples.

They married in 1957, but their relationship was fraught with challenges. In 1962, they divorced, citing career pressures and personal differences. However, love brought them back together, and they remarried in 1972. Their second marriage seemed stronger, filled with renewed commitment and love.

They had a daughter, Courtney Wagner, who was born in 1974, and together they formed a blended family with Wood’s daughter, Natasha, from her previous marriage.

The Tragic Night: Natalie Wood’s Mysterious Death
The tragic and mysterious death of Natalie Wood in 1981 remains one of Hollywood’s most perplexing and talked-about cases. On November 29, 1981, Wood, Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken were on Wagner’s yacht, Splendour, near Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California. The events of that night have been subject to much speculation and controversy.

According to initial reports, Wood went missing after having a heated argument with Wagner. Her body was found floating in the water the next morning. The cause of death was initially ruled as accidental drowning, possibly exacerbated by alcohol consumption. However, inconsistencies in the accounts of that night and subsequent revelations have kept the case alive in the public consciousness.

In 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reopened the investigation, citing new information. The coroner amended Wood’s death certificate in 2012 to change the cause of death from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors,” noting bruises on her body that suggested she might have been injured before she entered the water.

Wagner, now 94, has consistently denied any involvement in Wood’s death. Despite being named a “person of interest” in 2018, he has not been charged, and the case remains unresolved.

Honoring Her Memory: Robert Wagner’s Recent Instagram Post
Despite the tragic end to their love story, Wagner has never shied away from expressing his enduring love and respect for Natalie Wood. On what would have been their anniversary this year, Wagner posted a heartfelt tribute to Wood on Instagram. The post featured a vintage photograph of the couple in a tender embrace, radiating the love they shared. His caption read:

“Today marks the anniversary of the day I married the love of my life, Natalie. She was a beautiful soul, a phenomenal actress, and a wonderful mother. Her spirit lives on in our hearts and memories. I miss her every day.”

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