Kim Kardashian said she's "given up" on her chronic psoriasis. Here's how 3 women manage theirs.

If you're a lass who suffers from psoriasis, you'll know the struggle.

It's one of those skin conditions that's notoriously fickle to treat, and it affects so many people in different ways. And sometimes, it can be really difficult to know if you're doing the right thing when it comes to treatment. Because it's really confusing out there — and you'll often feel like approximately NOTHING is working, and it's only getting... worse.

Kim Kardashian can relate.

The reality star and beauty mogul shared her thoughts on everything from ageing to adult acne — as well as touching on her experience with chronic psoriasis in a recent interview with Refinery29.

"I'd love to thank my mother for that issue; I'm the only one of her kids that got it," she said. "I'm still very confused about my psoriasis and what triggers it."

Of course, this isn't the first time Kim has talked about her experience with the auto-immune disease — throughout the years she's been open about documenting her flare-ups and the various treatments she's tried.

Watch: Kim Kardashian's SNL debut. Post continues below video.

"Sometimes I'll be completely stressed out and I'll be completely clear with my psoriasis. Sometimes I'll be zen as can be, not a care in the world, and my psoriasis will completely flare-up. They say it should be the opposite. I've kind of given up on trying to figure it out."

So, what's it actually like dealing with psoriasis? And how do people manage it?

In an episode of You Beauty podcast, we asked three women from Mamamia to share their experiences — including what really works for them.

Maddie.

"I've had psoriasis for as long as I can remember. For me, it presents itself on my elbows, fingers and inside my ears, (which is so annoying). It's always in the same spot. I don't think I've ever been in remission — it's just something I deal with all the time.

"I wouldn't say my psoriasis is painful, however, it's so itchy. I definitely find the flare-ups happen in winter when it's more dry. I think the worst part for me is when it's inside my ear — I don't know if any of you have ever had to itch inside your ear, but it's such a hard spot to get! 

"In terms of what works for me, I find products with a thicker consistency are better. At the moment, I'm using an aerosol treatment prescribed by my dermatologist. I've been using it for about a year(ish) now and it is amazing. I spray it on the impacted areas, and literally within 10 seconds. It looks smooth, and there's no itchiness or flakiness. Of course, you can still see the skin is still paler than the rest of my body. But honestly, it's a game-changer.

Another hack is the Invite Vitamin E Cream ($11.49) — it's so good. I use it in summer and take it with me wherever I go for a quick and easy top-up. Another tip a dermatologist once told me, is to only wear cotton clothes and have lukewarm showers, if not cold showers. "

Kee.

"I have had psoriasis for 15 years. I got it when I was about 18, and it came at a time when I started to develop a lot of intolerances. Mine's very much linked to seasonal fluctuations but also the different foods that I can't eat will increase the flare-ups that I have. 

"I get it in specific spots mainly on my calves and elbows. But each year the spots have moved to different locations on my calves, which is quite annoying just because I am dark-skinned. Once it heals, the skin is a little bit lighter. So I ended up kind of looking like a bit of a cow on my calves!

"I can find it super painful, but mainly just in the winter. Through the warmer months, it's really easy to manage just by using fragrance-free moisturiser and making sure my skin is super hydrated. In the winter, just trying to compete with really cold, dry weather, makes it so bad. 

"I can manage it with a topical steroid cream. But I have to be really diligent and do it every morning every night. If I miss it, the flare-up will just get worse and it can get quite red, raw and uncomfortable. And I just am a sucker, and end up itching it which is the worst thing you can do. The rest of the year it's pretty easy to maintain and manage, and I just watch for those signs and get on it straight away.

"It definitely used to impact my life when I was younger because I got it at quite a pivotal age when I was socialising and going out a lot and wearing a lot of short dresses with my legs on full display. So that actually did really change my style and aesthetic. But I think with like age and perspective, it changed because I learned more about it. 

"I also understood that mine is really mild in comparison to others. Some people suffer really badly from it head to toe. So I kind of thought, I've got this — I can't do anything about it. All I can do is manage it. And that's kind of what I've done. I've just kind of learned to accept it. And if someone says something, I'm like, 'Yeah, I've got psoriasis — Kim Kardashian has it, so it's totally chic.'

"In terms of the best way to deal with it, if you want really quick relief go to your doctor and get a topical steroid cream. That will really save you because you get instant relief. Literally the next day that kind of red/rawness has gone away, and it just takes away that itch. So that's essential for winter. 

"However, if you're just managing all year round like me, I also focus on cutting out anything with fragrance — so I don't wash with any fragrance body wash or soap. I use CeraVe Intense Moisturizing Cream ($21.99), which comes in a tub. It's really thick and really good.

"Alternatively, I've just started trying QV, and it is good. I'm finding a little bit of breakthrough but it depends on the severity of your psoriasis. Anything from any of those types of brands like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay is always really good."

Nicolle.

"I've had psoriasis for a long time. I think I was only diagnosed properly when I was about 19. I must have had it as a child because my mum used to yell at me for not washing my conditioner out properly, but it turns out it was actually psoriasis. 

"I have it on my scalp, so I just used to think it was just like a little bit of dandruff and couldn't really understand why I couldn't manage it. I also get it under my fingernails and my toenails, but I only realised that when I went to the dermatologist for my scalp because it flared up really badly. 

"When I was about 19, I worked in a swimming centre, and with the heat of being indoors and the chlorine, it really flared it up and started creeping down the back of my neck and I started losing hair around my hairline. When I went to the dermatologist, and they told me I had psoriasis, they also checked my nails. They said if it's on your scalp, it's usually on your nails as well — which I thought was interesting because I'd never heard of it before.

"I managed it for years by wearing acrylics — which probably wasn't the best to do — but it was easy to hide my toenails. It basically looks like I have one or two nails that are a bit thicker, and so when you cut them it's all crumbly.

"For me, the emotional impact was probably felt more when I was younger. It was embarrassing, especially if I'd be out and go into the bathroom and look in the mirror I'd have like big chunks of what looked like dandruff in my hair. When I'd go to hairdressers or beauticians to get my nails done, they'd think it was an infection or contagious. 

"I knew that it wasn't curable but I knew it could be managed to a certain extent. But to have a hairdresser tell me, 'you just need to cut out dairy' — I'm just like, are you serious? I'm not asking you for advice. It was only when Kim Kardashian got diagnosed and publicly shared her experience was when I honestly stopped being embarrassed because I was like, well if Kim Kardashian has it, like I'm in good company.

"What's interesting for me is that my skin is not very dry anywhere else, so I've been really guilty of not really moisturising much. But I've been able to manage my scalp with Neutrogena T-Gel ($12.99) — a tar shampoo. It smells really strong, but that's how I manage it rather than with like a steroid cream or a moisturiser. Aside from that, I stick with washing my hair every second day. If I push it to a third day, that's when I feel like it starts to get itchy and potentially flare-up."

Have you experienced psoriasis before? What are your go-to treatments? Share with us in the comment section below.

If you are concerned about psoriasis, consult a healthcare professional.

Feature image: Instagram/@kimkardashian; @nicolle_stuart; @maddie.rodgers.