Scandal actress Katie Lowes reveals agony over psoriasis

Katie Lowes is known for playing the smart, confident Quinn Perkins on the TV hit Scandal.

But the brunette beauty wasn’t always the self-assured person she is today.

Back in 2010, Lowes was diagnosed with psoriasis – a common skin condition that causes itchy and scaly spots on the body.

The discomfort that the actress felt was so severe that she canceled her engagement photo shoot.

Now, having found treatment, Lowes is raising awareness of the disease to inspire more confidence in fellow sufferers.

Actress Katie Lowes, of Scandal fame, was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis in 2010 – characterized by inflamed, red skin covered in silvery, white scales

Lowes said the scales, which started on her scalp and spread down her back, made her so uncomfortable that she refused to wear her hair up on set 

Back in 2010, Lowes booked her first major acting gig on the show Scandal, and she got engaged to her now-husband, actor Adam Shapiro.

‘I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,’ Lowes told SELF. 

‘I was planning a wedding, and I was also working this job where all eyes were on me for the first time. The stress really triggered my skin to flare up.’ 

Lowes broke out in itchy and scaly spots that started at her scalp and spread all the way down her back.

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‘It was getting to a place where you definitely couldn’t ignore it and pretend like this was something small,’ she said.

WHAT IS PSORIASIS? 

Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by skin cells that multiply up to 10 times faster than normal.

As underlying cells reach the skin’s surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, red plaques covered with white scales.

The disease typically occurs on the knees, elbows and scalp, and it can also affect the torso, palms and soles of the feet.

The condition affects about 7.5 million people in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. 

Signs and symptoms:

• Plaques of red skin, often covered with loose, silver-colored scales
• Disorders of the fingernails and toenails, including discoloration and pitting of the nails
• Plaques of scales or crust on the scalp 

Flareups can be caused by: 

• Cold, dry weather
• Stress
• Some medicines 
• Infections
• Skin injury
• Alcohol
• Smoking

Treatments are varied and can include  topical creams and ointments, light therapy, and oral or injected medicines.

The goal of these treatments is not to just stop the rapid growth of skin cells but also to remove the scales and smooth skin.

That’s then she went to a dermatologist and was diagnosed with psoriasis.

The condition affects about 7.5 million people in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. 

Skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. As underlying cells reach the skin’s surface and die, their sheer volume causes raised, red plaques covered with white scales.

The most common form, which Lowes was diagnosed with, is called plaque psoriasis. 

Plaque psoriasis is characterized by inflamed, red skin covered with silvery, white scales.

The skin disease’s unique appearance can also make people self-conscious. 

Often thought to be contagious, psoriasis cannot be spread. 

The severity of the condition can vary from person to person and even from month to month, changing from affecting small discreet areas of the body to impacting large patches of skin.

Lowes said upon founding out she had the disease, she went into denial and didn’t pursue treatment. 

‘It brought out a lot of embarrassed and ashamed feelings,’ she said.

‘There’s such a pressure in Hollywood to feel perfect and feel like nothing’s wrong, and that was definitely not my case.’

She said the disease affected her confidence so much on set that she would constantly where her hair down in case any of the scales behind her ears showed.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Lowes decided it was time to seriously consider treatment when her psoriasis derailed her wedding plans.

‘I had a session booked to take photos with Adam to announce our engagement, and I actually canceled and didn’t show up because I was having a terrible flare-up,’ she said.

‘I had nothing to wear, and I just felt so ugly. I canceled it and I said to myself, “This has gone too far. I’m actually canceling huge, awesome things in my life because of this disease, and I can’t be alone in this”.’  

Lowes (pictured with husband Adam Shapiro) said the disease made her so insecure that she canceled her engagement photo shoot

Since finding treatment, Lowes (pictured with Shapiro) says she feels more confident and has  partnered with the National Psoriasis Foundation in a new campaign to raise awareness

After that incident, Lowes began aggressively searching for treatment.

According to the Mayo Clinic, psoriasis treatment can vary from person to person, with options including topical creams and ointments, light therapy, and oral or injected medicines.

The goal of these treatments is not to just stop the rapid growth of skin cells but also to remove the scales and smooth skin.

Because psoriasis can manifest in so many ways, Lowes says it took a few years to find a treatment that worked for her, but she thankfully did. 

Today, the actress says she feels much more confident and is going is working to advocate for others going through the same experience.

She’s partnered up with Janssen Biotech, Inc and the National Psoriasis Foundation as part of a new campaign featuring stories from people with psoriasis, and aiming to start a conversation and offer support.

And Lowes isn’t the only celebrity who has the disease and is working to raise awareness. Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne have both opened up about their own struggles with the condition and have been photographed with the flare-ups.

Lowes has not yet shared pictured of her condition. 

‘I feel like it’s taken me a long time to get to this place where I feel confident with myself again,’ she said.

‘I feel good in my own skin because I was able to find a doctor that I trusted and a treatment that has really helped me with my symptoms. 

‘It’s important for me to tell people that they too can feel great and get to a place where their symptoms are under control.’