Blogger nearly dies from psoriasis flare up so severe her body went into shock as her immune system attacked her skin
A YOUNG blogger was left fighting for life after a common skin condition flared up, causing her immune system to send her body into shock.
Bryony Bateman, 21, suffers psoriasis, which causes overproduction of skin cells, leading to red, flaky patches with silvery scales.
But, during one flare-up the condition affected 98 per cent of her body, leaving her feeling as though she was “burning from the inside”.
Her body went into shock as her immune system attacked her skin thinking it was a threat.
“It was like I was burning from the inside,” said Bryony.
“My body was in a state of shock because my skin was so dry that my body had no hydration at all.
“I was literally shedding sheets of skin, it was agony.
“It was life threatening and without the emergency treatment they gave me, it could have been a different story.
“It was a really horrible experience but it made me more determined to make other people aware of psoriasis and how dangerous it can be.”
After battling back from the brink of death, she now helps others cope with the illness.
Model and reality star Kim Kardashian recently talked about her battles with the condition.
Three years after being diagnosed, Bryony is an internet sensation, using Instagram, YouTube and Twitter to recommend products and give fashion advice.
She said: “I want stop people feeling ashamed about having it and learn to be proud of knowing how to manage it properly.
“As much as it hurts I want to give people the strength to get through it and stay positive.”
Bryony, a beauty therapist, began suffering from symptoms of psoriasis aged 17 when she developed a rash on her stomach.
Doctors feared she was allergic to washing power but when the rash failed to heal she started looking online for clues.
Bryony discovered she had psoriasis and was diagnosed aged 18, later finding out her grandfather suffered from the same genetic condition.
“It started spreading from my stomach to my back and my arms and legs,” said Bryony.
“It was keeping me up at night because it was so itchy. It was like being covered in mosquito bites and I had to wear socks on my hands to bed so I didn’t scratch myself too much.
“My skin would get really dry and then it would crack and split. It was agony.”
What are the signs of psoriasis and how is it treated?
Roughly two per cent of the population are affected by psoriasis. It severity varies and in more serious cases can have a crushing impact on a sufferer’s life.
The condition causes red and crusty patches with silvery scales to flare-up on the skin.
They normally appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, but can crop up anywhere on the body.
The patches can sometimes be itchy or sore. People with the condition have increased production of skin cells.
Normally skin cells are replaced over a three to four week period.
The disorder is thought to run in the family but the precise role genetic plays is unclear.
Many people’s symptoms are “triggered” – meaning the rash will occur when they injure the skin, get a throat infection, or use certain medicines.
A GP can usually spot it simply by its appearance on the skin, but sometimes they will take a small sample to be examined under a microscope.
This will rule out other skin disorders.
Psoriasis has no cure but treatments can reduce the itchiness and the appearance of skin patches.
Topical treatments, meaning creams and ointments, can be rubbed into the skin.
If these aren’t effective that phototherapy can be used to treat it.
This involves the skin being exposed to ultraviolet light.
In truly severe cases oral or injected medicines are available that work throughout the whole body.
Since her diagnosis, Bryony has been prescribed a number of antibiotics and steroid creams to try to reduce her symptoms.
Not wanting to let the condition rule her life, Bryony trawled the internet for solutions to make her more comfortable and cover the itchy scabs which engulfed her body.
She was “astonished” to find little help for young psoriasis sufferers, despite it affecting two per cent of the UK population.
Bryony, from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, said: “All I was finding was shocking pictures of women in their 50s which, without being funny, didn’t relate to me who was only just starting out with the condition.
“I found that sea salt baths and having sun beds helped me, and I learned how to cover my face so my skin looked flawless.
“I wanted to get this out there to help other young sufferers like me to prove that life does go on.
“It’s given me the confidence to carry on and helps me cope and come to terms with it.”
Kim Kardashian has revealed she has finally learned to live with the condition which she described as her “biggest flaw”.
You can find Bryony’s video and tips on and .