Olympic Gymnast Suni Lee Recalls Being ‘Embarrassed’ by Skin Condition After Receiving Diagnosis
Suni Lee
Suni Lee, all-around champ at the 2020 Olympics—among several other impressive accolades—is opening up about the heavy impact her eczema has had on her physical and mental health over the years, and how she's hoping to change that for other young folks suffering from the skin condition.
During a recent panel, the 21-year-old recalled feeling "really uncomfortable" when she was younger because her "skin was always super dry, super flaky, [and] really itchy," according to CBS News.
Her mother took her to a doctor and received a referral for a dermatologist, who ultimately offered her some answers with the diagnosis and began working to find "the right treatment plan."
But, because "nobody ever talked about it," the gymnast felt embarrassed by the condition, which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a form of dermatitis that "causes your skin to become dry, itchy and bumpy" and "weakens your skin’s barrier function, which is responsible for helping your skin retain moisture and protecting your body from outside elements."
Now, by opening up about the impact, she hopes to become the role model she needed for others in a similar place.
"It can be kind of isolating when you deal with eczema and having an eczema flare-up, so I just want people to know that you are not alone and it does not define you," she added, explaining that when "you're constantly looking down at your skin" it's easy to assume that "other people are looking at it and staring at it," though, "in reality," it's unlikely that "anyone's looking that hard."
Unfortunately, stress is a major trigger for an eczema flareup, and with Olympic trials coming up and an incurable kidney disease that has also previously taken her away from the sport, mitigation is key.
Lee admitted that stress is "a daily thing that I have to battle" when speaking with the publication, affirming that it "definitely starts to pick up when [she has] to perform." In order to minimize her levels of stress, she does "a lot of journaling" and "[goes] to therapy a lot."
The trials are set to take place in Minneapolis, where the Paris hopeful grew up. "I get to compete in front of a hometown crowd, and all my friends and my family are gonna be there so it's going to be a good one," she told CBS News. "I have had to deal with so much the past two years. Just feel so good to know that I can be back out there, not even at my best, and I can still be able to perform," she added. "I'm so excited."
