Simone Biles reveals how her embarrassing skin condition journey inspired Arcutis Biotherapeutics awareness campaign

Talk about a warrior - on the spring floor as well as outside of it. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles recently opened up about a personal health struggle that left her feeling self-conscious.But she thoughtfully turned her embarrassing experience with an inflammatory skin condition into an awareness campaign for Arcutis Biotherapeutics.Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens’ wife has partnered with the biopharmaceutical company for its “Skin to Believe In” campaign. The initiative encourages people living with eczema and seborrheic dermatitis to seek medical help and explore treatment options.The campaign was announced on September 29; it draws attention to skin conditions that cause persistent itching, flaking, and visible changes.According to Arcutis Biotherapeutics, nearly 36 million Americans suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and the most common form of eczema - atopic dermatitis.Simone Biles, wife of Jonathan Owens, reveals eczema struggleIn a Healthline interview, Simone Biles revealed that she mistook itching and flaking on her scalp for dandruff. She even worried that the symptoms could be contagious. Beyond her scalp troubles, she also noticed recurring dry patches on her arms.These skin symptoms became frustrating, particularly during her gymnastic training. She would catch herself scratching on the uneven bars or balance beam while waiting her turn to come. She would scratch until she bled.She felt uncomfortable about how the flakes showed up on camera during photoshoots. She would try to conceal them with oils.The Olympic gold medalist had spent years experimenting with over-the-counter products. She tried several shampoos, creams, and oils. But nothing relieved her skin condition. Embarrassment and demanding training schedules delayed her from seeking professional help for her skin ailment.Biles finally revealed her skin sorrows on social media during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Immediately thereafter, she sought skin help from a dermatologist. She finally found a name for her condition. She was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis on her scalp, while she had eczema [atopic dermatitis] on her arms.Zoryve treatment helps manage skin symptomsAfter she found a name for her unknown skin condition, Simone Biles finally embraced relief with Zoryve [roflumilast]. Arcutis Biotherapeutics developed this prescription topical medication - the 0.3% foam formulation relieved her seborrheic dermatitis on her scalp, while the 0.15% cream helped her eczema on her arms.She praised the treatment, saying it easily fit into her busy routine. She found the medication non-greasy, easy-to-use, and stressed that it’s not a steroid, pill, injection, or shampoo. The timely treatment reduced Biles’ itching and flaking problem. The eczema patches on her arms also became clear.Caution note: individual effects can vary, so patients should consult a healthcare professional before starting treatment to determine appropriate options.Arcutis campaign aims to break skin condition stigmaSimone Biles collaborated with Arcutis Biotherapeutics for its “Skin to Believe in” campaign. The world-renowned gymnast hopes to help others overcome the embarrassment and misconceptions that come with visible skin conditions.Through her partnership, the Olympic gold medalist hopes people come forward and speak openly with healthcare providers about their skin troubles, instead of quietly enduring the symptoms or relying on home remedies.“I’ve learned that we can’t fix every problem on our own and it’s okay to seek help,” Biles said in the campaign announcement. This initiative clearly shows how her personal experience inspired Arcutis Biotherapeutics’ awareness campaign.Arcutis and Simone Biles connection explainedArcutis CEO Frank Watanabe said that Biles’ first encounter with Zoryve came organically and started on social media. The decorated gymnast shared her skin problems in a TikTok post during the 2024 Paris Olympics, the CEO said in an interview.Dermatologists recognized her itchy, flaky scalp symptoms as seborrheic dermatitis and encouraged her to explore available treatment options. They encouraged her to check out some of the FDA-approved products available for the condition.That’s how she got started on Zoryve and connected with Arcutis. “She’s a very enthusiastic supporter of the product. Working with her is great,” Watanabe said via Fierce Pharma.Arcutis has worked with other public figures to raise awareness of inflammatory skin conditions - professional golfer Max Homa and actress Tori Spelling, along with her daughter Stella McDermott, in its “Free to Be Me” patient awareness campaign for inflammatory skin conditions.Simone Biles’ stress management tricksHealthline contacted Simone Biles’ dermatologist, Angela Lamb, MD, who said that stress can contribute to eczema flares. Personalized care is essential because weather conditions and individual triggers can also flare symptoms.Beyond treatment, Jonathan Owens’ wife told Healthline that managing stress is a crucial part of health. She spends time with her friends, gets her nails done, enjoys a massage, and takes a bath at night to unwind herself.She also said that stepping away from her demanding gymnastics career helped her relieve her stress. “Honestly, without training every single day, I don’t feel as stressed.” Biles said. “[Everyone] can find different ways to alleviate their stress. And it looks different for everyone.”Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.