Real Fix Magazine
  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Relationships
  • Bizarre
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Inspiration
  • Love This
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Relationships
  • Bizarre
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Inspiration
  • Love This
No Result
View All Result
Real Fix Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Brave psoriasis sufferer proudly shows the painful red rash which covers 97% of her skin after a decade of hiding her body

RealFix by RealFix
August 24, 2015
in Health, Most Popular
0
Brave psoriasis sufferer proudly shows the painful red rash which covers 97% of her skin after a decade of hiding her body
134
SHARES
137
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsapp

A woman who was left feeling like a “freak” due to a painful condition that leaves her body covered in painful red rash has learned to love her ‘ugly skin’.

Giorgia's psoriasis covers 97% of her body
Giorgia’s psoriasis covers 97% of her body

Single Giorgia Lanuzza, 24, used to dread looking in the mirror as a result of her psoriasis, which covers around 97 per cent of her body.

Giorgia has suffered from the condition, which sees skin become patchy, itchy and sore, leaving flaky wounds since she was 13.

Becoming worse under stress and in heat, Giorgia struggled to accept her ‘ugly skin’ – and often covered up in long-sleeved t-shirts and leggings as a teen.

Schoolmates, strangers and dates avoided touching her because they feared her condition was contagious – though she assured them it wasn’t.

Giorgia reached rock bottom when she was forced to cut short a six month trip to Thailand after realising she could only spent 10 minutes a day in the sun.

Four months on, brave Giorgia is embracing her body – and the welts that cover it – by launching a campaign to prove her condition does not maker her any less beautiful.

Giorgia was left feeling like a 'freak' due to a painful condition that leaves her body covered in painful red rash
Giorgia was left feeling like a ‘freak’ due to a painful condition that leaves her body covered in painful red rash

Giorgia, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, said: “People would stop and stare at me in the street.

“My psoriasis looks like red, raised spots and people looked at me as if I was disgusting and they might catch something.

“I felt so self-conscious about the condition that it was ruining my life.

“Stressing about my flare-ups only made them worse – so now I look at my skin with a positive mindset.

“Finally I’ve come to terms with my skin and have realised that I am beautiful.

“After all these years I finally have confidence in my own skin I want to show other women that their ‘abnormalities’ could be their strengths.”

Giorgia first developed psoriasis at the age of 13, when her father Giuseppe Lanuzza died suddenly.

She said: “The condition is often triggered by trauma, and when I lost my dad I felt like the world had ended.

“My world went to pieces – we were so close when I was growing up, and I couldn’t bear losing him.

“Grieving was difficult enough. Then, when these flaky patches started appearing on my skin, I had no idea what was happening.

“At first it was just on my arms and scalp, but gradually, it spread across my entire body – even my face and hands.

“I was just a teenager and all I wanted was to be like other girls my age – wearing makeup, pretty clothes and talking about boys.

“Instead, giant patches of my skin were red and unsightly – I felt like a freak compared to other girls my age and did everything to cover up.

“I tried not to itch the dry patches but, even so, in class other girls would point at my scab-covered arms and say that I was ‘infected’.”

Giorgia has learned to love her skin
Giorgia has learned to love her skin

Over the next 10 years, Giorgia was prescribed a cocktail of different creams by dermatologists to tackle her psoriasis.

But, as the condition is chronic and becomes worse in moments of stress, exhaustion and in heated temperatures, Giorgia says she couldn’t escape regular flare-ups.

She added: “While other girls would dress in strappy tops and go to parties, I spent my teens wearing long-sleeved t-shirts.

“Though I was painfully self-conscious in my early teens, I was determined psoriasis wouldn’t rob me of my teenage years.

Giorgia proudly poses in her bikini
Giorgia proudly poses in her bikini

“I tried to think of them as reminders of my dad, as I’d got psoriasis after he died. That was a comfort, but it was still hard.”

Recently Giorgia launched a campaign to embrace the way her body looked including the sore patches.

She explained: “I put together a portfolio of photos of myself in bikinis and other skimpy clothing, to show I wasn’t going to hide my psoriasis anymore.

“The wounds are red and scab-covered in the photos, but I won’t hide them away or edit them. I’m proud of them now – they remind me that I’m strong.”

Now, the wannabe fashionista hopes to follow in the footsteps of Canadian model Winnie Harlow, who has made international headlines.

Like the model, who has broken down traditional stereotype surrounding ‘beauty’ by posing with the skin condition vitiligo.

Giorgia hopes to encourage other women and girls with her own campaign as well as help the 2 per cent of people suffering from the condition.

She added: “I am finally realising that I don’t have to see my psoriasis as a curse. I know my dad would be so proud of me for my attitude.

“Now I’ve come to terms with psoriasis, I want to help others do the same.

Giorgia now has body confidence
Giorgia now has body confidence

“We might have conditions that make us look different from other women, but we are still beautiful.”

Previous Post

Ex-boyfriend crept into woman’s house and LIVED in her ATTIC

Next Post

Game of Thrones obsessed couple name their baby after one of the show’s characters

RealFix

RealFix

Real Fix is a completely free true-life magazine. Check out our Facebook page for more videos and clips, or download our New Real-Fix Podcast for astonishing interviews with some of the real people behind our amazing stories.

Next Post
Game of Thrones obsessed couple name their baby after one of the show’s characters

Game of Thrones obsessed couple name their baby after one of the show's characters

You Must See

Fisherman stunned at hauling in huge common octopus ‘with suckers as big as 50p pieces’ off the British coast

Fisherman stunned at hauling in huge common octopus ‘with suckers as big as 50p pieces’ off the British coast

June 23, 2022
One of Britain’s oldest nurses revealed she has no plans to retire – and said she will keep working full-time as long as she feels fit

One of Britain’s oldest nurses revealed she has no plans to retire – and said she will keep working full-time as long as she feels fit

June 23, 2022
Postman leaves hilarious note for homeowner – after he was accosted by her guard BUNNIES

Postman leaves hilarious note for homeowner – after he was accosted by her guard BUNNIES

June 23, 2022
The captain of a cargo ship jumped overboard to rescue – a MEERKAT

The captain of a cargo ship jumped overboard to rescue – a MEERKAT

June 23, 2022
Vet has performed rare caesarean section surgery – on a GUINEA PIG

Vet has performed rare caesarean section surgery – on a GUINEA PIG

June 23, 2022
Young British couple who struggled to find work during Covid are now living the dream “off-grid” – out of a school bus in the US

Young British couple who struggled to find work during Covid are now living the dream “off-grid” – out of a school bus in the US

June 23, 2022
  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Relationships
  • Bizarre
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Inspiration
  • Love This

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2022 South West News Service Limited.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Relationships
  • Bizarre
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Inspiration
  • Love This

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2022 South West News Service Limited.