She has now cancelled her 21st birthday party in Ibiza to go on a six-week detox to banish the sores
Cara Delevingne has become the model of the moment, thanks to her seemingly flawless beauty but this week she has hinted she may quit because she suffers from the skin condition psoriasis.
In February, onlookers noticed her legs were covered in red sores as she walked down the catwalk during Milan Fashion Week.
And she has revealed she turned to supermodel Kate Moss who helped her seek medical care.
She has now cancelled her 21st birthday party in Ibiza to go on a six-week detox to banish the scabs, which flare up when stressed.
Fellow sufferer Rebecca King, 19, says taking a break from work is the best thing for Cara.
Last month, Rebecca handed in her notice and swapped partying for nights in for the sake of her skin.
She says: “I was covered head to toe with sore, dry, flaky scabs but I saw a change in my skin overnight.
"I got home, had a bath, put on my special emollient creams, which help calm it and relaxed.
"I woke up the next day and it looked better. I used to run around a lot and do things for others. I’ve learnt to say no to people.”
Rebecca, who comes from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, says: “They gave me creams but it didn’t go. It was all over me and spread like wildfire.
“I’d just got into a new relationship but I had to stop wearing make-up as it was hurting. I didn’t want to put foundation on as it was sore and itchy.”
She says she was so embarrassed that she wore long sleeves and maxidresses to try to cover herself up but she has learnt that’s one of the worst things to do.
Rebecca says: “The biggest mistake I made was wearing tights as you need to let your skin breathe.
“I went to V Festival last year and some boys were shouting at me to sort my fake tan out but the white patches all over were part of my psoriasis.
“At first, it knocked my confidence. At 18, you’re not feeling the most confident.
"I catch people looking at my arms and legs. They think it’s contagious.
“I’m more confident now. I still have days when I look in the mirror and don’t want to go out, though.
"People are going to have to see it though – it’s normal to my friends.”
Another sufferer, Niki Hine, is relieved someone as gorgeous and high-profile as Cara is openly talking about her psoriasis.
“More people need to talk about it. Someone in the public eye saying they have got it will make it more acceptable.
"It makes you feel you’re not alone and you’re not the only person in the world who has it.”
“I developed psoriasis when I was 17 – when my mum passed away. I had eczema as a child but never had psoriasis until then.
"It affects my confidence badly. I don’t like getting my legs out as people stare and it makes me feel nervous.
“I use the Dead Sea skin range then apply aqueous cream. You learn to cope because you have to.
"I hate the fact that if I scrape myself it turns into psoriasis.
“I am always finding new patches. I hate the fact that I’m stuck with it. It makes me feel ugly.”
Psoriasis affects about 2% of the population and can occur at any age and can come and go without warning.
It’s caused by a fault in the immune system, making skin cells grow too fast, leaving excess cells on the skin’s surface.
A genetic condition, some people are more likely to develop it than others if it runs in their family.
Psoriasis is also linked to obesity and heart disease but experts are unsure about the reasons for this.
Apart from stress, triggers include hormone changes, injury and certain medications and while there is no cure, symptoms can be managed.
"In its mildest form, it can be treated with moisturisers as well as vitamin D-based drugs or topical steroid creams.
"They are effective in treating, not curing psoriasis.”
Dr Leslie says going abroad and relaxing in the sun will do wonders for Cara’s skin.
“Another way to reduce stress is to have sunlight exposure.
"People often find that being exposed to sunshine and less stress means their skin gets better,” she says.
It’s something Rebecca agrees with.
She says: “Before I went to Spain last year, my psoriasis was all over but after a week it had completely cleared up.
“At home, I have baths with sea salts in to reduce my scaly skin and stop the itching. Swimming in the sea really helped me.”
Dr Leslie also suggests cutting down on alcohol if you are a heavy drinker as it can make psoriasis worse.
When Rebecca was first diagnosed, she quit alcohol for six months and now drinks only once a week.
But she says the best advice she can give to Cara is to hit the gym.
She says: “Exercise has been a really big help to me. It’s a stress reliever.
"After showering, moisturise like there’s no tomorrow. Now I always carry a bottle of moisturiser around with me.”
