Maybe you thought this scarring was the result of a tragic burn. Or perhaps you thought childhood acne was the source. You may have even thought that Seal has birthmarks.
Fans are often surprised to learn that the reason for Seal’s scarring is none of these assumptions. In fact, these speculations are the furthest from the truth.
Seal’s life has been anything but easy. That’s because, as a child, Seal struggled with a terrifying illness. Like a number of other celebrities, Seal has an autoimmune disease called lupus.
If you haven’t heard of lupus, you’re definitely not alone. Many people haven’t. And if they have, they often confuse it with other diseases.
“Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body),” according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Lupus affects a large percentage of Americans. The Lupus Foundation of America says that, based on research, “at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.”
If you think about it, that’s equivalent to the number of people living in a relatively large city. And according to the Lupus Foundation of America, more than 1,600 new cases are diagnosed in America alone each year. Worldwide, 5 million people are thought to be affected by this disease.
So who gets lupus?
Lupus is a disease that mainly affects women between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. That said, males, as in Seal’s case, can develop lupus too. However, the demographic most affected falls in the aforementioned age range.
And though the disease can strike those of any race, some are at higher risk than others. “Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians,” according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Celebrities, especially those affected by lupus, have been strong advocates of awareness of this disease, which has helped to take it out of the shadows and into the limelight.
Bet you’re wondering just who these celebrities are. Following are six celebrities who have lupus (or have tested borderline positive for lupus).
1. Nick Cannon
America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon learned that he had lupus in 2012. Cannon is affected by a form of lupus called lupus nephritis. This disease is known to affect the kidneys. Since then, he’s made an effort to raise awareness about the disease.
"It actually drives me. It was one of those things where, even when I first got sick, I told them to turn the cameras on,” Cannon told HuffPost Live. “I created the NCredible Health Hustle and I wanted to document this process because I wanted to inspire others that may be dealing with this condition or a similar condition. To say, you don't have to let it stop you."
Thank you, Nick, for your brave attitude. It’s helped many to understand that they are not alone in this struggle.
2. Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton won our hearts with songs like “You’re Makin’ Me High” and “Un-Break My Heart.” However, our own hearts later broke when she collapsed during a live performance in 2008.
Though doctors first thought she had had a heart attack, tests soon revealed a different diagnosis. Braxton had lupus.
“Twenty-three percent of my microvalves and the small blood vessels in my heart were receiving no oxygen,” Braxton told Health Monitor. “The blood work was undeniable…It showed I have lupus.”
In a relatively recent interview with the HuffPost Live, Braxton opened up about her struggle with the disease.
"Some days I can't balance it all. I just have to lay in bed," she told HuffPost Live. "Pretty much when you have lupus you feel like you have the flu every day. But some days you get through it. But for me, if I'm not feeling well, I tend to tell my kids, 'Oh mommy's just going to relax in bed today.’ I kind of take it easy."
Hang in there, Toni. We’re rooting for you.
3. Seal
We all remember the famous song “Kiss from a Rose.” That song was sung by one of America’s favorite musicians, Seal. Seal has spoken openly about his childhood battle with lupus, which resulted in visible scars on his face.
“Seal has a form of lupus called discoid lupus erythematosis (DLE), a form of lupus that mainly attacks the skin and usually affects young people,” according to blackdoctor.org. “Intense inflammation develops in the skin, particularly in sun-exposed areas. If not treated aggressively with sun protection and anti-inflammatory medicines, ‘Seal-style’ scarring can result.”
Seal, our hearts go out to you. And we thank you for helping others to learn about this disease.
4. Lady Gaga
Though Lady Gaga does not officially have lupus, she has tested borderline positive for the disease. This means that “symptoms or blood test results suggest lupus, but there is not enough information for a definite diagnosis,” according to information published by the Lupus Foundation of America.
"Lupus is in my family, and it is genetic,” Gaga said told Larry King. "And it's so funny because my mother told me the other day that my fans were quite worried about me because they did talk about the fact that I was tested for lupus.”
Gaga says she currently has no symptoms of lupus. And we hope it stays this way for one of America’s most talented musicians.
5. Selena Gomez
Fans speculated just why singer Selena Gomez had taken a break. Rumors of an addiction problem swirled in the media. And then she revealed shocking news: the break had been due to chemotherapy used to treat lupus.
“I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy. That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke," Gomez told Billboard in a recent interview.
This created more confusion about the disease. In fact, many fans wondered if lupus was actually a type of cancer.
“The biggest thing to understand is that lupus is not cancer,” says Dr. Irene Blanco, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a rheumatologist with Montefiore Health System, in an interview with Healthline. “There’s a lot of misconception in the community that lupus is cancer because it deals with the immune system and you have abnormal cells.”
Stay strong, Selena. Your bravery is a truly amazing example.
6. Ray Walston
OK, we all loved Mr. Hand in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. That unforgettable role was played by the late Ray Walston.
“Actor Ray Walston lost a six-year battle with lupus and died just after his 86th birthday in 2001,” according to St. Thomas’ Lupus Trust. Walston also appeared in Star Trek the Next Generation.
R.I.P. Ray. We sure do miss you. And we’ll never forget Mr. Hand.