'DAY-TO-DAY STRESS NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE'

Linzi Dunlevy opens up about suffering with psoriasis and the life-changing effects it has had on her

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Kim Kardashian, Love Island star Olivia Bowen and Strictly Come Dancing’s Aljaž Škorjanec have something in common – they suffer from psoriasis. The autoimmune condition causes raised scaly patches on the skin which form itchy, flaky scales.

It’s usually the result of skin cells replacing themselves faster than they should. On average, skin cells renew in three to four weeks. For those with psoriasis, the process only takes three to seven days.

In the UK, one in 50 people are affected, and with the result ranging from mild irritation to extreme pain, the impact on daily life and self-confidence can be huge.

To mark Psoriasis Action Month, primary school teacher and mum-of-one Linzi Dunlevy, from West Lothian, tells us how her condition nearly proved fatal.

“Stress is something many people face, but for me a house move, the loss of my aunt and working hard nearly cost me my life. I developed a potentially fatal version of psoriasis known as pustular psoriasis, which caused pus-filled white bumps to develop on top of my already scaly skin. These then joined together, bursting open and leaving my skin tender.

“My open wounds and sore skin meant I was compared to a burns victim, with 67% of my body covered, everything except my face and hands. It felt like my skin was on fire.