Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber, & 14 Other Celebs Who Are Battling Chronic Skin Conditions

Chronic skin issues like psoriasis and eczema affect millions of Americans, yet they are still widely misunderstood — which is why a growing number of celebrities are speaking out about what it’s like to live with these conditions.

According to the CDC, psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease that accelerates the growth cycle of skin cells. This can cause a person’s skin to become dry, flaky, scaly, or itchy. (Psoriasis rashes can disappear and reappear throughout a person’s life based on situational factors like illness or stress levels, a phenomenon known as “flare-ups.”)

Psoriasis not contagious, and it mostly occurs in adults, although children can be diagnosed too. There is no cure for the condition, but symptoms can be managed with topical medications and stress-relief measures.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, presents similarly, with patches of dry, severely itchy skin. This condition is also chronic, but it is not considered an autoimmune disease. According to the National Eczema Association, experts believe it is caused by “an interaction between a person’s environment and their genes,” in which topical irritants or allergens trigger an outsized immune response. Eczema’s characteristic itchiness can be managed by using topical creams, moisturizers, and cold compresses, and by avoiding known itch triggers.

Since the dry, flaky skin patches associated with psoriasis, eczema, and other conditions like perioral dermatitis (which causes a facial rash) are often highly visible, these conditions can be a huge source of shame, insecurity, or loneliness. Psoriasis in particular is still shrouded in stigma. Per the National Psoriasis Association, many people mistakenly believe that psoriasis is contagious, a harmful misconception that affects how people with psoriasis flare-ups are treated.

Chronic health issues are nothing to be ashamed of, and that includes skin conditions. Luckily, many public figures are doing their part to raise awareness about them. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Jonathan Van Ness, and LeeAnn Rimes have all used their platforms to speak firsthand about what it’s like to live with a chronic skin condition.

Read on to learn more about nine celebrities who have opened up publicly about battling psoriasis, eczema, perioral dermatitis, and other chronic skin conditions.

This article was originally published on sheknows.com.