5 Celebrities with Psoriasis
Psoriasis impacts the lives of more than 125 million people worldwide, regardless of status, occupation or lifestyle. In today’s society, where beauty standards and perfection seem impossible to attain, having psoriasis can feel incredibly isolating. What may surprise you is that many of the celebrities idolized in the public eye are struggling with psoriasis, just like you.
US celebrities with psoriasis, from Beyoncé to Jonathan van Ness, are sharing information about their struggles with the hugely common skin condition. Their bold and candid public outreach is helping the over 7 million Americans, who struggle with psoriasis, feel less alone.
Here are five celebrities with psoriasis:
- Beyoncé
- CariDee English
- Kim Kardashian
- Cara Delevingne
- Jonathan van Ness
Learn more about these five celebrities and their struggles with psoriasis.
1.) Singer Beyoncé has scalp psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is one of the most common face and head areas for psoriasis to pop up, and it’s notoriously misdiagnosed as other skin conditions. This leaves scalp psoriasis sufferers frustrated, constantly searching for treatment that works. So, If you suffer from an itchy, psoriatic scalp, it’s comforting to know you’re in good company.
Infamous singer and 32-time Grammy winner, Beyoncé, has recently opened up about her scalp psoriasis. In an Essence cover story, she discussed how scalp psoriasis has been a big part of her life, and the treatments her parents helped her use:
“From spending my childhood in my mother’s salon, to my father applying oil on my scalp to treat my psoriasis – these moments have been sacred to me.”
2.) Top Model CariDee English is one of the celebrities with psoriasis
After winning America’s Next Top Model when the show was at the peak of its fame, CariDee English became a model sensation and also a psoriasis advocate. Despite the glamor of her modeling career, CariDee faces countless challenges managing her psoriasis symptoms in the public eye. She has been very open about her battle, including sharing real photos of her skin during psoriasis flare ups.
One particularly candid Instagram post is of the model wearing a pink tank and pants, baring her elbows, and lower legs to expose inflamed psoriasis patches.
The caption: Pretty in Pink, even in a #Psoriasis flare 💕 I remember when everyone told me I’d never make it as a model! The most impactful achievement in my modeling career was when I became a role model for psoriasis 💕
CariDee’s psoriasis advocacy doesn’t stop there. She’s also been a spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation. Unlike many other celebrities who encountered psoriasis in their 20’s or 30’s, CariDee first experienced psoriasis when she was just five years old. Her long journey has helped her gain a legitimate following of fans, including real psoriasis sufferers.
3.) Kim Kardashian shares her psoriasis photos
Kim Kardashian is a celebrity that speaks about her psoriasis often, aiming to help inspire fans with the skin condition to feel less alone.
Kim told her sister’s online magazine Poosh:
“When I was 25, I had my first psoriasis flare-up. I got a common cold, and since psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, this triggered it. It was all over my stomach and legs.
...Earlier this year is when it got extremely bad—it covered my whole face and a majority of my entire body.”
Kim has shared countless images of her face and body during psoriasis flare ups on her social media. Now in her 40’s, Kim Kardashian shares she’s finally in a place of acceptance:
“I’ve become extremely comfortable with my psoriasis. No matter where it is on my body, sometimes I am fine with showing it off and other times I don’t want it to be a distraction, so I cover it up with body makeup.”
Infamous for her beauty and body, Kim’s honesty in sharing her celebrity psoriasis journey has helped her seem more relatable while also helping her fans with psoriasis feel less isolated.
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4.) Cara Delevingne went topless to showcase her psoriasis journey
Stealing the show at the Met Gala 2022, Cara Delevingne was topless, sprayed in gold. This risqué look revealed her tattoos, while also exposing patches of psoriasis. While the supermodel has spoken about her psoriasis in the press, before the Met Gala she hadn’t openly shown off her skin during a flare up.
"At first I was like, 'Wait a minute, I should cover this up, right?' and then I remembered, though, that it's not good for my skin and a lot of people live with psoriasis," Delevingne said.
Like anyone with psoriasis, her first instinct was to cover the patches with the gold paint for the event. Then she remembered that applying makeup to flared areas can irritate it.
"It's not a beautiful thing to have - but you also have to be proud of it. I'm proud of it in the sense that it's something that belongs to me. I used to hate my psoriasis, but that only made it worse."
5.) Jonathan van Ness first experienced psoriasis at 23
In 2018, the Queer Eye star shared an Instagram photo of himself with psoriasis on his legs and body. The caption was: “Sickeningly Gorge, I left my psoriasis & my body unretouched, why should I dim my shine henny?”
Since then, the star has shared more about his psoriasis journey, including a candid interview on Cyndi Lauper’s podcast. The “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer also has psoriasis.
“I got a little scratch and that triggered my flare-up. It threw everyone for a loop, because initially, it made my doctor think I had a bacterial infection or maybe I was allergic to something,” Van Ness told Parade. He was just 23 at the time.
“It took me a good six weeks, give or take, to figure out what it was exactly,” Van Ness shared on Cyndi Lauper’s podcast. “I had it misdiagnosed a couple times before I found a dermatologist that was like, ‘Oh, that’s psoriasis.’”
Jonathan’s fun approach to life has helped make his psoriasis posts and information relatable to other psoriasis sufferers, with a splash of humor.
15 other celebrities with psoriasis you didn’t know about
Not every celebrity with psoriasis is as candid about their skin condition as the celebs above. Like so many other people, some celebrities with psoriasis aren't confident in sharing their flare up photos.
Here are 15 other well-known celebrities who suffer from psoriasis:
- Art Garfunkel (Singer)
- Cyndi Lauper (Pop star)
- Dara Torres (Olympic swimmer)
- Jerry Mathers (Actor)
- Jon Lovitz (Comedian and former SNL host)
- John Updike (Novelist)
- Katie Lowes (Actress)
- Kris Jenner (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)
- La La Anthony (Author, actress and TV personality)
- LeAnn Rimes (Singer)
- Liam Gallagher (Singer)
- Louise Roe (Presenter, model and fashion journalist)
- Mabelynn Capelui (Miss California 2013)
- Phil Mickelson (Golfer)
- Stacy London (Stylist)
Celebrities with psoriasis range from the outspoken and bold to the more shy and conservative. However, just knowing that so many famous people share this same skin condition can make other sufferers feel less alone in their psoriasis journey.
To all the celebs who even mention their skin condition, to those who share candid images of their skin in the midst of a flare-up, the psoriasis community thanks you.
