Simone Biles diagnosed with seborrheic and atopic dermatitis
- Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles has revealed she quietly lived with chronic, undiagnosed skin conditions during the 2024 Paris Olympics, fearing television cameras would catch her flaking scalp...
- Biles received her diagnosis from a dermatologist in Chicago after dealing with symptoms for more than two years.
- She was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis affecting her arms, which damages the skin's protective barrier and causes dry, inflamed, itchy patches.
Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles has revealed she quietly lived with chronic, undiagnosed skin conditions during the 2024 Paris Olympics, fearing television cameras would catch her flaking scalp and skin. The most decorated gymnast in history was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis after years of misreading her symptoms as ordinary dandruff.
The Dual Diagnosis From a Chicago Dermatologist
Biles received her diagnosis from a dermatologist in Chicago after dealing with symptoms for more than two years. The evaluation revealed two separate chronic inflammatory skin conditions falling under the broader eczema umbrella.
She was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis affecting her arms, which damages the skin’s protective barrier and causes dry, inflamed, itchy patches. Simultaneously, she was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis affecting her face and scalp, a condition that targets oily areas and links to an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast naturally living on human skin. According to dermatology sources, having both conditions concurrently is not unusual, matching Biles’ pattern of a flaking scalp alongside patches on her limbs.
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Struggling With Symptoms While Training in the Gym
Before receiving her diagnosis, Biles initially assumed her flaking scalp was just dandruff. As she trained for the Paris Games, her condition worsened significantly, leading to severe discomfort while waiting for apparatuses.
I would definitely be in the gym, finding myself waiting for bars or for beam and just scratching and scratching, and people would be like, ‘Simone, can you stop scratching?’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, my bad, sorry.’
In her interview with People, Biles detailed the physical toll of the unmanaged condition, stating she would itch so hard with a comb that she would bleed. She admitted she delayed seeing a specialist because she was busy training and felt in denial, trying various over-the-counter products and oils that ultimately failed to resolve the issue. Her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, also initially raised concerns that the condition might be contagious before the couple educated themselves.
Public Awareness Campaign and Current Management
Dr. Angela Lamb, the dermatologist working alongside Biles, emphasized that neither condition is an infection or contagious, noting that sharing items like a comb or pillow will not transmit them. Biles now manages her symptoms using Zoryve, a once-daily, steroid-free topical prescription medication provided in two forms by maker Arcutis Biotherapeutics: a lightweight foam for her scalp and a non-greasy cream for her eczema patches.
By speaking out publicly through the Skin to Believe In campaign, Biles aims to help others avoid prolonged suffering and reduce the social stigma and embarrassment surrounding chronic skin issues.
I know people are going through similar things, thinking it’s dandruff or thinking it’s contagious. You don’t have to silently suffer. Own it. Go see a trusted professional, and get the relief that you deserve.
Simone Biles