When Allison Sowle showed up to a model casting with oozing eczema and no makeup, she didn’t expect to be chosen out of 30,000 people. But her message was clear: “I’m proud to be myself.” In this episode, Allison talks about claiming space in the modeling world, surviving without insurance, and the beauty of showing up as you are. Plus, we look back at some of the most bizarre and misguided psoriasis treatments in history.

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Jess Tran was 24, thriving in her career, and training as a powerlifter when a mysterious rash changed everything. It turned out to be guttate psoriasis—and it forced her to rethink everything from ambition to self-image. In this episode, Jess shares how she learned to listen to her body, why visibility can be both empowering and exhausting, and what she wants to change about the wellness industry. Plus, a scientific journey into the immune system—and the breakthrough that changed how we treat psoriasis today.

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India Bolton was first diagnosed with guttate psoriasis in college. Years later, that diagnosis expanded—through two pregnancies, psoriatic arthritis, and months-long flare-ups that covered her body. In this episode, India opens up about parenting through chronic illness, how she found strength in community, and why her children are part of her motivation to keep showing up. Plus, we dive into the science and history behind one of the world’s most effective natural treatments for psoriasis: the Dead Sea.

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DaQuane Cherry was once the kid who wore a hoodie to hide skin flare-ups in school. Now he’s an artist and advocate helping others feel seen. He reflects on his psoriasis journey, the power of small joys, and why loving yourself first isn’t a cliché—it’s essential. Plus, a deep dive into the history of La Roche-Posay’s legendary spring.

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We’re back! Welcome to Season 2 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast with Holly Frey.

This season, we’re continuing the conversation about what it really means to live with psoriasis—through powerful, personal stories of resilience, self-advocacy, and finding freedom in the skin you’re in.

But we’re also zooming out. Each episode, we connect those lived experiences to the wild, weird, and sometimes toxic history of how we’ve treated our skin across centuries.

From ancient salves to modern science, Season 2 dives into the past to better understand the present—and to help us imagine a more compassionate, informed, and free future.

Let’s get into it.

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After being diagnosed with psoriasis as a teen, Joni Kazantzis has tried just about every treatment one can to get comfortable in her skin. Her blog, Just a Girl with Spots, became a platform for Joni to shed light on the struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. Listen in as we explore her dedication to helping others find their path to treating their own chronic illness, and strength in the support of others who get it. In our history segment, learn about the development of one of the most modern–and effective–treatments for psoriasis: biologics!

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Andrea Wool is the founder of Autoimmune Strong, a community for those with autoimmune disorders seeking exercise that heals rather than harms. Andrea shares her experience with chronic pain, fatigue, and her quest to find a sustainable, gentle approach to fitness. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia and multiple autoimmune diseases, she turned her struggles into a mission, helping others transform their relationship with exercise and health. Stepping back into history, we trace the evolution of our understanding of autoimmune conditions through the work of three pivotal doctors.

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Reena Ruparelia has lived with psoriasis since she was in high school. But she didn’t start sharing about her experience until 20 years later. Stigma played a role in her hesitancy to speak out, but a major factor was the difficulty in finding a doctor who really listened, and a treatment that worked. Until patients find treatment, it can feel like their life is on hold–but Reena has a message of hope for anyone still looking. Reena’s story ties in perfectly to the history in this episode, which goes step by step through the evolution of psoriasis treatment, from ancient times to our modern medicines today. 

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When Jen Weaver was diagnosed with psoriasis in 2017 (after five years handling rheumatoid arthritis), she was 36 years old and had three busy kids. Her plaques were very visible–she said they covered her “from head to toe”--and very painful. Psoriasis meant a step into a world where people noticed her auto-immune condition for the first time, and the reaction was far from comforting. So Jen found her people, and now runs a community and resource bank called “My Spoonie Sisters” (Why spoons? Listen to find out!). In our step into history, we trace the origins of the stigma against psoriasis and the key figures in dispelling that stigma. History, and Jen, show us that education busts stigma. 

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Activist and Hollywood producer Holly Dillon was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was just 14 years old and, at 20, was told by a doctor that there was no help for her–that her body had “failed.” Devastated but not deterred, Holly launched Get Your Skin Out, a visual campaign and online community of people sharing about their skin disorders, and looking beautiful doing it. As we step back in skin history, we examine the lives of Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Siddal, suspected psoriasis patients, who wrote extensively about how their symptoms affected them. We see they faced many of the same challenges people do today.

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