{"id":6863,"date":"2026-03-24T13:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=6863"},"modified":"2026-03-25T03:12:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T03:12:06","slug":"i-suffered-with-terrible-psoriasis-for-a-decade-i-tried-steroid-creams-drugs-and-special-shampoos-but-all-they-did-was-ruin-my-skin-then-i-found-the-only-cure-that-works-and-was-freed-from-my-nig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/?p=6863","title":{"rendered":"I suffered with terrible psoriasis for a decade. I tried steroid creams, drugs and special shampoos but all they did was ruin my skin. Then I found the only cure that works – and was freed from my nightmare"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

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For 14 years, Shannon Highman battled red, inflamed and unbearably itchy patches of scaly skin that covered her body and scalp.<\/p>\n

\u2018When my skin is itchy, I can\u2019t help but scratch it \u2013 even when the blood starts to run,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018I rarely wear my hair up because of the scaly patches on my hairline and down my neck. It left me mortified.\u2019<\/p>\n

It would take Shannon more than a decade to find a solution to her psoriasis, which involved radically changing her diet and skincare routine.<\/p>\n

Shannon, now 26, was diagnosed with psoriasis \u2013 an autoimmune condition affecting more than one million Britons \u2013 at just 12 years old, something she believes was triggered by hormonal changes.<\/p>\n

She was prescribed a topical steroid cream, which initially brought relief. But it did little to protect her from the cruelty of classmates.<\/p>\n

\u2018I remember a boy at school said my head looked like a snow globe because of my flaky skin,\u2019 she recalls<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I went home and cried to my mum \u2013 I felt so embarrassed. No matter how many specialist shampoos I used, it didn\u2019t get any better.\u2019<\/p>\n

Even at the height of summer, Shannon would cover up.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Shannon<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Shannon Highman, now 26, was diagnosed with psoriasis \u2013 an autoimmune condition affecting more than a million Britons \u2013 at just 12 years old<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Shannon<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Shannon was left with indentations all over her body after steroid creams thinned her skin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018When everyone else was in short sleeves, I\u2019d still wear long\u2013sleeved shirts because I didn\u2019t want people to see the patches on my arms,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018My skin would get so itchy it would bleed through my white shirt. It completely shattered my confidence.\u2019<\/p>\n

The comments didn\u2019t stop.<\/p>\n

\u2018I remember a boy asking me in PE, \u201cWhat are those dots all over your legs? Have you got chicken pox?\u201d After that, I refused to wear shorts and stuck to leggings.\u2019<\/p>\n

While the steroid creams worked briefly, the inflammation would quickly return.<\/p>\n

Years of use also came at a cost.<\/p>\n

\u2018I feel betrayed by the doctors who prescribed them for so long because no one warned me about the side effects,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have indentations all over my body where the steroids thinned my skin. They look like deep chicken pox scars \u2013 I knew I\u2019d be marked for life.\u2019<\/p>\n

During college, Shannon, from Manchester, returned to the dermatologist and was offered phototherapy \u2013 a treatment using controlled UV light to reduce inflammation. UV rays are thought to help by suppressing the overactive immune system.<\/p>\n

She attended sessions three times a week, with exposure gradually increased.<\/p>\n

But the treatment was far from comfortable.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The scars left on Shannon’s back from topical steroid use<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
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\"Phototherapy<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Phototherapy left Shannon with burn marks on her face<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Around 90 per cent of the time I\u2019d leave with these big white goggle marks because my skin had burned,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

Although it helped temporarily, her psoriasis returned within a year.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until her twenties that Shannon began to notice a surprising trigger.<\/p>\n

\u2018Through trial and error, I worked out that things like fizzy drinks really triggered psoriasis flare\u2013ups on my face and arms.<\/p>\n

\u2018My mum was always telling me to cut back on sugar and certain foods, but as a teenager I just thought, “Oh, shut up, Mum, I want to eat what I want.” Now I wish I\u2019d listened.<\/p>\n

\u2018It wasn\u2018t until I got older that I noticed that if\u00a0I had something like a can of Coke, the next day my eyebrows, hairline and face would flare up,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

\u2018Over time, it was obvious that if I\u2019d had something with high sugar content the next day, I would be paying for it.\u2018<\/p>\n

Determined to tackle the condition, she decided to overhaul her diet.<\/p>\n

\u2018I cut out sugar and avoided ultra\u2013processed foods because I realised they were making my skin really angry.’<\/p>\n

Ultra\u2013processed foods \u2013 which include ready meals, ice cream and even some sauces \u2013 are a staple of the modern British diet and are often packed with additives, sugar and preservatives.<\/p>\n

A 2024 study published in JAMA Dermatology found that people who consumed high levels of such foods had a significantly increased risk of developing psoriasis, with researchers suggesting they may fuel inflammation in the body.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Shannon's<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Shannon’s skin is pictured before and after changing her skincare and diet<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"After<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

After years of hiding under long sleeves and leggings, Shannon now feels more confident in her skin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Experts believe psoriasis is linked to an overactive immune system, which speeds up skin cell production. While skin typically renews every three to four weeks, in sufferers it can occur in as little as three to seven days.<\/p>\n

Shannon says she noticed a change almost instantly.<\/p>\n

\u2018My skin cleared up\u00a0quickly,\u2018 she says. \u2018It happened within four weeks once I stopped having these things that were triggering my symptoms.\u2018<\/p>\n

As well as changing her diet, Shannon also simplified her skincare routine \u2013 cutting out fragranced products and fake tan, which she found aggravated her condition.<\/p>\n

She began using\u00a0ISOSKIN hypochlorous acid spray, an antimicrobial compound known to help calm inflammation.<\/p>\n

Hypochlorous acid is a natural byproduct of the body\u2019s immune response, produced by white blood cells to fight bacteria and infection.<\/p>\n

Early research suggests that hypochlorous acid may improve psoriasis symptoms.<\/p>\n

Some experts argue that because it mimics the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the substance the body naturally produces, hypochlorous acid sprays can help both kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.<\/p>\n

However, others stress that \u2013 while safe to use \u2013 hypochlorous acid is not an approved NHS psoriasis treatment.<\/p>\n

\u2018The first time I used it, I sprayed my entire hairline and slept in it overnight,\u2019 Shannon says.<\/p>\n

\u2018The relief I felt the next morning was incredible. It wasn\u2019t itchy or inflamed \u2013 it just felt calm.<\/p>\n

\u2018As well as cutting out sugar which dealt with the inflammation internally, I used the hypochlorous spray, which soothed my skin on the outside.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was a quick turnaround and I saw improvements within weeks. It was like my skin was thanking me.\u2018<\/p>\n

She now uses it twice daily and says flare-ups clear within weeks.<\/p>\n

Dr Philippa Kaye, a London GP, says that, while there is evidence that lifestyle changes may help with psoriasis, there is little to support the use of hypochlorous acid.<\/p>\n

\u2018Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition so eating a healthy low-inflammation diet will likely help, though it won’t cure patients.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hypochlorous acid is meant to have mild antibacterial properties. It\u2018s a trendy treatment, and safe to take, but there\u2018s not evidence to call it a psoriasis treatment. It’s not something that GPs would use.\u2018<\/p>\n

However, Shannon says the combination of diet changes and the skin care product have had a profound effect.<\/p>\n

\u2018My friends and family still comment now on how much my skin has cleared up,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018They saw me through my worst times and how angry my skin would be, so doing something such as having my arms out would have them give me an instant compliment.\u2018<\/p>\n

\u2018My confidence has improved massively,\u2018 she says. \u2018I still get the odd flare-up if I drink cocktails or get stressed \u2013 but nothing like before.\u2018<\/p>\n

And her biggest takeaway?<\/p>\n

\u2018It sounds so simple but learning my triggers changed everything,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t miss fizzy drinks at all \u2013 if anything, I\u2019d choose water every time now.\u2018<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her experience, she says: \u2018If I could go back in time, I\u2019d listen to my mum telling me to cut out sugar and I\u2019d never have touched the steroid creams.<\/p>\n

\u2018They cleared my skin for a bit, but now I\u2019m left with scars and white patches I can never get rid of.\u2018<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  For 14 years, Shannon Highman battled red, inflamed and unbearably itchy patches of scaly skin that covered her body and scalp. \u2018When my skin is itchy, I can\u2019t help but scratch it \u2013 even when the blood starts to run,\u2019 she says. \u2018I rarely wear my hair up because of the scaly patches on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6863","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-disease"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6863"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6898,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6863\/revisions\/6898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}