Well covered: Ruth Watson's fringe hides the inflamed skin on her hairline due to psoriasis, which started when she was 24

Television presenter Ruth Watson gets through plenty of concealing make-up when she's filming up and down the country - but it's not for her lovely blemish-free face, it is to cover up the red scaly patches on her hands.

Ruth is one of the 1.2million people in Britain who suffer from psoriasis, a chronic skin ailment for which there is no cure.

The glamorous, if slightly formidable former presenter of Hotel Inspector, who now fronts Channel 4's Country House Rescue, where she sets out to save historic homes by giving the owners tough advice, is pragmatic about her condition.

'I use the concealer particularly for the driving shots, when you see my hands up close,' she says.

'It's not that I'm embarrassed - it's a part of me - but I don't want it to distract people from the programme. I'd like them to be enjoying the story, rather than staring at the screen and wondering what's wrong with my hands.'

The renowned businesswoman, hotelier, restaurateur and writer started to develop symptoms at the age of 24, not long after she had got together with her husband David.

'It was a huge time of change in my life and I jokingly say to David that it's all his fault, as stress can be a factor. I first noticed it on my scalp and dismissed it as dandruff.

'But I soon realised it was more serious and quite quickly it spread over the rest of my body, arms, legs, torso - everywhere basically, apart from my face, thank goodness. 

'Ironically, I've always had decent skin and although my hairline can be badly affected, it hasn't reached my face.'

Psoriasis - the effects of which were memorably highlighted by actor Michael Gambon in the TV series The Singing Detective when his character developed the illness - most commonly appears between the ages of 15 and 25, according to Gladys Edwards, chief executive of the Psoriasis Association.

The charity has been dispensing help and advice as well as raising money for research for more than 40 years.

created 7th March 2010 Daily Mail