Working Through a Rough Patch: These Celebs All Have Eczema
Battling eczema can be tough. But you’re not the only one. These celebs have it, too.
It’s those, dry, red, sometimes scaly patches with the unbearable itch. As someone who has suffered from eczema or atopic dermatitis her entire life, I know firsthand that they can be agonizing to have to endure. Yes, they’re dry, red, scaly, unbearably itchy, and sometimes they crust, ooze, bleed, and swell.
Eczema, according to Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, isa chronic, inflammatory skin condition. “Eczema is caused by an overactive immune system, but in this case, the skin barrier is weakened, therefore the moisture in the skin is depleted causing extra-dry and itchy skin,” Dr. Engelman says.
Going through an eczema flare up is not pretty. It’s not only itchy and painful, but it makes you feel like you stick out like a sore thumb, with everyone’s eyes on you. For us Filipinos, in many cases, the patches darken and leave scars (I’m speaking from experience here)—and that definitely doesn’t make you feel good about yourself.
But there’s no need to worry that there’s a spotlight trained on you (and your red patches). Eczema is more common than you think. According to board-certified dermatologist Lia Nebrida-Idea, MD, head of St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City’s dermatology department, the Philippine Dermatological Society recorded approximately 60,400 eczema patients between 2011 and 2023.
And in case you’re still feeling down about having to fight what seems like a never-ending battle against the condition, know that celebs have to do it, too. Here are some celebrities who all know what life with eczema is like.
Scarlett Kramer and Chesca Garcia-Kramer
As a toddler, Scarlett Kramer developed a very itchy rash that led to nonstop scratching (sound familiar?) and eventually, bloody wounds. What her mother Chesca Garcia-Kramer initially thought was a random allergic reaction turned out to be, according to doctors, eczema. Years later, the rashes began appearing on Garcia-Kramer herself—proof of the fact that eczema can develop even in later years.
Maria Ressa
In the 2021 Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press held in the United States, journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, while discussing the online harassment she has been subjected to shared, “Name any animal, I’ve been called it. I have eczema, extremely dry skin, and the meme they created was ‘Scrotum Face.’”
It’s this kind of cruel bullying and ridiculing that makes those who have eczema fearful of what others will think of them and their condition.
Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan
While endorsing an over-the-counter medication that is used for eczema, actress, author, and educator Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan shared that her family has to deal with eczema.
Kerry Washington
Hollywood actress Kerry Washington has spoken up about having eczema even as a child, and having to visit dermatologists regularly because of it.
Kristen Bell
Another Hollywood star whose eczema started when she was a child is Kristen Bell. Although her eczema seemingly went away when she was young, it made a grand return in her late 30s.
Elle Fanning
Several years ago, actress Elle Fanning posted a selfie to Instagram of her eyelid eczema, which she previously shared also appears on the backs of her knees and her inner elbows. Dr. Engelman shares that eczema is prone to appearing in areas where the skin folds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by an overactive immune system that weakens the skin barrier, depleting moisture and leaving skin dry, itchy, red, and prone to flaking, crusting, or swelling. In Filipino skin, eczema flares often result in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — darkened patches and scarring that persist after the flare subsides.
The Philippine Dermatological Society recorded approximately 60,400 eczema patients between 2011 and 2023, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lia Nebrida-Idea of St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City. Dermatologists note that eczema is significantly more prevalent than many Filipinos realize, as the condition is often underreported or mistaken for other skin concerns.
Yes. Eczema can emerge at any life stage, including adulthood and later years. Actress Kristen Bell’s childhood eczema appeared to resolve but returned in her late 30s. Chesca Garcia-Kramer developed eczema as an adult, years after her daughter Scarlett was first diagnosed as a toddler — illustrating that the condition is not limited to childhood onset.
Eczema frequently develops in areas where the skin folds — the inner elbows, backs of the knees, and eyelids — as these sites experience increased friction, moisture, and pressure. Actress Elle Fanning has publicly shared that her eczema appears on her eyelids, the backs of her knees, and her inner elbows, locations consistent with what board-certified dermatologists identify as common eczema-prone zones.
Yes. The visible nature of eczema — particularly the redness, scaling, and in Filipino skin, post-inflammatory darkening — can cause significant self-consciousness and social anxiety. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa has spoken about being publicly ridiculed for her eczema, highlighting how the condition’s stigma compounds the physical discomfort. Dermatologists and those living with eczema consistently note the emotional toll of managing a visible, chronic skin condition.
