With roughly 30 million Americans suffering from eczema, it is no surprise that there are celebrities who have been spotted with or have come forth about their own struggle with this itchy, and often aesthetically embarrassing, skin condition. Due to the stigma attached to eczema, the unknowing public who have never been directly affected by it or to the childhood bullying that so commonly occurs, it is reasonable to believe that there are many celebrities affected by eczema who have chosen not to be as open about their condition.
The world around us has been captivated by Kate Middleton. From her engagement, wedding, marriage, and baby with husband Prince William, to her classy and elegant wardrobe attire; we have watched Kate mature into a beautiful, young Duchess of Cambridge. Perhaps, a lesser known or followed story about Kate, is the fact that she is one of the many people affected worldwide by eczema. Veritably speaking, Kate was badly bullied as a child, in part due to the outward evidence of her eczema flare ups. According to a statement made at NOWdaily, Kate’s friend, Jessica Hay stated that, while Kate attended the Downe House girls’ boarding school, the girls were so horrible they put feces in her bed.
Brad Pitt, a household name in the celebrity realm, has also been cited as being a sufferer of eczema. Pitt is a global icon, recognized as an adoring husband to actress Angelina Jolie, a loving father, a notable humanitarian, movie star, and one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. Brad has starred in an eclectic mix of motion pictures including, but most certainly not limited to: Fight Club, A River Runs Through It, Inglourious Basterds, Troy, Meet Joe Black and the Oceans Eleven saga. While he was filming, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, his co-star, Oscar award winning- Cate Blanchett divulged, that she loaned Pitt her skin care cream to treat the contact eczema that he developed as a result of the prosthetic make up he wore in that film. She did not elaborate as to whether or not she herself suffered from eczema, but there has been speculation with regards to her having a cream for treating it.
British singer and global diva, Adele announced to UsWeekly, “I have eczema from boiling bottles!” Of course, she was referring to caring for her little boy and the woes and joys of new motherhood—but perhaps she is really allergic to the preservatives in her baby wipes! One of our favorite Nashville divas and reality tv star, Leann Rimes, has been very open over the years, about her life with eczema. Like Kate Middleton, Leann was teased and bullied mercilessly as a child because of her eczema. Rimes has been very vocal with her story and believes spreading the word will help others understand this skin condition better and will reinforce to those who have it that they are not alone in dealing with eczema’s unsightly flare ups and sometimes tedious management.
Golden Globe and Academy award winner, Nicole Kidman, is believed to have eczema. Kidman is an Australian actress, film producer and singer, best known for her roles in: The Hours, Moulin Rouge, Rabbit Hole, Far and Away and Batman Forever. Images on Skinema, show Kidman with bright red, cracked, wrinkled and scaly hands, suggesting an eczema flare up. Skinema states that, “Kidman seems drawn to characters with skin issues” elaborating on her roles in The Stepford Wives, The Others and Practical Magic, where she plays a witch opposite Co-star Sandra Bullock.
Though there is less information to be found online, additionally these celebrities have or are believed to have eczema, as well: Britney Spears, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Jade Jagger, daughter of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger.
Atopic Dermatitis, better known as eczema, presents itself as an itchy red rash, that can appear anywhere on the body. Areas can appear very dry, red, raised, thick and scaly. Depending on the pigmentation of the skin, eczema patches can vary in shades of red and brown. Often times these patches can scab and ooze.
Some identifying symptoms of eczema are:
- Extremely dry skin
- Intense itching
- Inflamed skin
- Red Rash
- Recurring Rash
- Scaly, flaking patches
- Leathery patches of skin
- Oozing and scabbing
Eczema is known to be associated with certain skin lipid deficiencies, with an elevated skin pH, colonization with the bacteria, Staph. aureus, with excessive inflammation and with severe allergies to many chemicals that come in contact with the skin. Eczema is part of the atopic triad; it is linked to allergic diseases such as asthma and hay fever and is also even associated with the annoying red bumps on the backs of the arms called keratosis pilaris. It is believed that if you or a family member have been diagnosed with an allergic disease, that you are more prone to develop eczema.
It is important to develop an eczema treatment plan and be adamant in sticking to it. Some known triggers or allergens include; nickel, fragrances and essential oils, preservatives including MCI/MI, formaldehyde releasing preservatives, sulfates, cocamidopropyl betaine, azo dyes, lanolin and especially the topical antibiotics bacitracin and neomycin. Other chemicals act as irritants that can worsen eczema and include; bubble bath, chlorine, harsh soaps like dishwashing and laundry detergents and even fabric softeners. Allergens such as pets, dander, mold and pollens, can also trigger flares. Stress and illness are big factors in causing outbreaks. Extreme temperatures of hot and cold, high and low humidity and perspiration have also been identified as triggers.
If you are experiencing symptoms of eczema, avoid these foods if they seem to induce flareups:
- Wheat/Gluten/Oat
- Dairy
- Soy Products
- Nuts
- Eggs
There are many other considerations to make when implementing your eczema treatment regimen including:
- Trimming your nails to avoid excessively scratching and further irritating and infecting the skin
- Wearing breathable fabrics like cotton, while avoiding itchy fibers like wool
- Wear white clothes to avoid azo dyes if you tend to get itchy where your clothing rubs
- Avoid tight clothing
- Avoid long, hot baths/showers and replace them with warm 5 minute showers
- Don’t use soap–except where you are itchy and stinky
- Pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of showering
- Install a humidifier in your home
- Keep a journal of your treatment to help you identify your personal triggers
- Give pets dander treatments
- Take bleach baths a few times a week when you are flaring
One of the key factors in treating eczema, or any other number of skin conditions, is finding the right moisturizer or skin care product that works. The major complaints of those who have tried medications and numerous over the counter moisturizers is that they burn, or they simply don’t work. If you actually read and dissect the labels on many of those products, you will find harmful chemicals or allergens such as: oat/gluten, sulfates, cocamidopropyl betaine, fragrances, lanolin, essential oils (many of them cross react with fragrances and fragrance allergy), bisabolol (from the compositae plant family), preservatives such as MCI/MI (methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone), benzalkonium chloride, and any of the formaldehyde releasing preservatives. Products with these known chemicals and allergens will likely not help, but can actually even make eczema worse.
The TrueLipids products are uniquely formulated, are 99% Vegan, and truly hypoallergenic; meaning they are designed for even the most allergy-prone skin and are perfect for all skin types. TrueLipids focus on skin barrier repair through essential skin lipid replacement, modulation of the skin pH, soothing inflammation and even helping to promote cell cycling through calcium chelation. In laymen’s terms, TrueLipids are formulated to help your skin repair itself.
The combination of these three products will give maximum effectiveness, relief and results. With a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, you can stop wasting your time, money and energy on treatment options that don’t work. Don’t settle for living with uncomfortable itching and embarrassing flare ups. Try the TrueLipids Ultimate Eczema Kit today and start walking towards an itch-free life!
As a thank you for being brave in sharing their stories, creating awareness and letting others know that they are not alone, CherylLeeMD Sensitive Skin Care would like to offer TrueLipids to any of the above mentioned celebrities, who have been suffering from eczema or any other skin condition.
