Simone Biles reveals new ‘miserable’ eczema battle months after 'almost dying' scare
The Olympics icon said she used to itch until she would bleed because of the condition.
S imone Biles has revealed she spent more than two years battling painful skin problems in silence, describing an experience that became so miserable she would scratch until she bled while preparing for competition. The gymnastics legend recently opened up about being diagnosed with eczema on her arms and seborrheic dermatitis on her scalp, revealing the conditions caused persistent itching and flaking that she initially struggled to understand.
TThe seven-time Olympics gold medalist said the symptoms became particularly difficult during gymnastics preparation, when she would find herself unable to ignore the irritation. Biles said she was “standing at the chalk bucket, just itching until I'm bleeding,” illustrating how severely the condition affected her performance and distracted her in a sport where concentration can be the difference between good health and serious injury. The 29-year-old eventually sought professional treatment after initially trying to manage the symptoms herself, and admits she now uses prescription medication, including a foam treatment for her scalp and cream for her arms. “Obviously, (I have) trusted professionals around me,” Biles told TODAY. “And great, great doctors, so I'm doing a lot better. “It's still an interesting road, but I am doing a lot better. I was really self-conscious of it at first, so I kind of brushed it to the side.”
Biles admits she was in denial about skin condition
Biles said the problems began with red, itchy patches on her scalp and arms, and she and her stylist initially tried over-the-counter products and oils, but the symptoms persisted before she eventually saw a dermatologist. Examined for a “dent” in her arm and received diagnoses for the two inflammatory skin conditions, and the experience also affected Biles' confidence, particularly because of the possibility that television cameras could capture the symptoms during competitions. “If people noticed on the TV,” Biles said previously via TikTok. “I didn't want them to say something before me. So I was like, I have to address this because you couldn't just avoid it. “If they zoomed in, you could probably see it. That's when I felt it was the worst. At first I was really embarrassed and ashamed. “Like I was in denial, he was in denial. I think I have motivated him in some form, and he's [Jonathan Owens] like, 'Okay, this is a normal thing. A lot of people have it.'” The revelation comes months after Biles described a separate medical emergency as an experience in which she “almost died.” Her health and future in gymnastics remain closely connected and watched as she weighs up whether to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics , where she would be 31. She says the decision is “kind of in the works,” while acknowledging the appeal of competing at a home Olympics but that family plans, the physical demands of another training cycle and her motivation to return all remain factors. Biles recently attempted a double layout in the gym and was surprised by how comfortable the skill felt, hinting that her supreme talent remains with her as the tournament approaches.
