After struggling to get a diagnosis throughout her teen years, one Brit found salvation in the celebrity’s advice
Psoriasis is an incurable, lifelong autoimmune condition that can affect people for a variety of reasons and with different symptoms or severity. For Ahlia – whose name has been changed for this article – it took years of misdiagnosis and a range of medications to even start getting control of her skin condition.
While she remembers having dry skin as a young child, in her teens she began getting ‘persistent patches of red scaly skin, particularly on my scalp, around my ears, and forehead’ that would often be painful, itchy, stinging, or even start bleeding. She initially dismissed it, but the patches began spreading, affecting her confidence, social circles in school, and even her hairstyles.
She told the Mirror: “It was hard having these flare-ups coming up on my skin. I went to an all-girls school and they didn’t have such skin reactions like this and they would always point it out, which made me really self-conscious, so I would cut my hair to make sure I had a fringe to cover it. With the creams (the doctors) would give, it would be really greasy, you’d look really oily and that had an impact on the overall look of my skin as well, and it makes it harder to put make-up on.”
When she was eventually diagnosed with psoriasis, she began a years-long journey of trial and error to find out which medications would work, all while struggling with other health issues and the mental health impact of psoriasis. From vitamins to steroids to coal tar shampoo, and even future potential phototherapy as a recommendation – nothing seemed to work for long enough and, over time, the student started growing concerned about how many pharmaceuticals her body was absorbing.
On the hunt for something a bit more natural, Ahlia noticed Kim Kardashian – who has been open about her own struggles with psoriasis – and a few other blogs were recommending an unlikely solution: sea moss. She pinpointed a UK-based company, Wyld Herbs, and decided to give it a go. Taking just a teaspoon a day, either on its own or blended into smoothies, or even as a mask, she said it had an instant soothing effect if her skin reached a crisis point.
Ahlia said: “It did take a few weeks but I noticed an improvement in my skin. It looked a lot less inflamed, the skin overall felt really hydrated and the itch subsided a lot. I’ve noticed fewer flare-ups, especially during stressful periods. I’m less dependent on having to rely on steroids and it’s really helped my mental health and confidence. I know deep down it’s been helping me internally as well.
“With psoriasis, you just feel like everyone’s always looking at you, especially when you’re walking down the street, but now I feel less self-conscious and knowing that it’s natural has given me a bit more ease that I’m not putting anything harmful into my body.”
That is not to say that Ahlia has completely ditched her pharmaceuticals. She still uses daily moisturising creams and aids like coal tar shampoo when necessary.
For others facing what can feel like a never-ending uphill battle with skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, Ahlia advised: “It’s hard but try to ignore what people say about your skin because it’s unique to you and know there’s always a way to manage it. It’s a lot of trial and error so try not to feel frustrated because they use a protocol to find the best management for you.”
Nadezhda Robinson, the founder of Wyld Herbs, explained a bit more about the oceanic solution, saying: “My younger sister has sickle cell anemia. She’s been living with pain for a really long time and my whole life I’ve been really interested in natural remedies, ways to stop her from getting sick, or managing pain so she wouldn’t have to depend on pharmaceuticals.”
On her mission to help her sister, Nadezhda found herself in the Caribbean mountains for six months during the pandemic, working with a natural healer and taking back everything she had learned to create Wyld Herbs, which focuses on the healing abilities of sea moss. While sea moss has helped her sister avoid any hospitalisations for the last three years, it has also proven to be incredibly useful for her clients with eczema, psoriasis, and other skin, hair and nail conditions.
For psoriasis in particular, Nadezhda explained there are a variety of compounds, vitamins, and minerals in sea moss that combine to combat the condition. She said: “When you apply Karogen, typically it helps to stop the redness and inflammation associated with psoriasis.
“Mucilage alleviates the dryness and the scaling, and it also helps support the skin’s natural barrier. There is also magnesium and potassium – sea moss has ridiculous amounts of potassium – zinc to promote wound healing, and natural sulphur that acts as an antibacterial.”
She highlighted that hydration and balanced diets are still key to maintaining good skin, even with a sea moss supplement, saying: “You can’t out-chemical a healthy diet. What you put into your body starts to show on the skin. I’m not against pharmaceuticals but I do feel like we’re looking for quick fixes.”
Additionally, Nadezhda warned people on blood thinner medication and those who are pregnant to avoid taking sea moss before consulting their doctor as it could have a counteractive effect. It may also cause a reaction in people who are sensitive or allergic to shellfish, as Nadezhda pointed out. “It’s grown in the sea so it may contain shellfish,” she said. “We can’t say crustaceans haven’t been on the product.”