LeAnn Rimes has no problem belting out songs in public, but she's been hiding a secret. At age two, LeAnn was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease known as psoriasis. The condition is characterized by reddish, thick, and flaky skin with silver-white patches. This common condition can appear suddenly or slowly and flares up repeatedly over time. It's not contagious but can be hereditary.

Poor LeAnn was tormented by her peers. She recently told Health, "Kids didn't want to hang out with me or touch me. I remember being called 'Scaly Girl,' and never ever wanting to go out in a bathing suit."

To encourage people to get help, LeAnn joined a campaign called Stop Hiding. For more details and to watch a video of LeAnn discussing her experience with the disease, read more.

LeAnn hasn't had a flare up in five years since she's made some changes. She said, "I found great medication and a great doctor and began really living a healthy lifestyle." She even felt confident enough to show off her skin in a bikini on the March of Fitness magazine. She said, "To feel vibrant, to feel like a woman, to want to show off that I have clear skin, it's the happiest day of my life." Below is the public service announcement LeAnn recorded for Stop Hiding.

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