Tori Spelling, best known for her role as Donna Martin in Beverly Hills 9021.0, has shared much of her personal life through various media platforms. However, one significant health challenge she’s faced with her daughter Stella has remained private until now.
The actress, 52, and her 17-year-old daughter Stella have both been dealing with eczema, a common but potentially debilitating skin condition. Spelling describes the intense physical discomfort, comparing the sensation of her flare-ups to having her arms on fire. “I’d be filming and I was scratching so badly that I had to change my wardrobe because I had scabs all over my arms that were bleeding,” she shared with Women’s Health.
The physical symptoms weren’t Spelling’s only struggle. She noticed that during eczema flare-ups, she became increasingly withdrawn. “I became really anti-social and made excuses to not go out,” she explained. “I would be like, ‘Oh, I’m just tired, I have kids, I don’t feel like going out.’ But then I’d realize, no, it’s more than that. So, it was wearing on me from an emotional and mental standpoint.”
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The Vicious Cycle
Spelling’s eczema emerged during a particularly stressful period in her life. “I was going through my first divorce and I had also just created a new TV show called So Notorious that I was starring in,” she said. “There were a lot of great things happening and some not-so-great things happening. It was so much pressure on me from all sides.”
This stress triggered her first major flare-up. “It was like my arms were on fire, and I didn’t understand why,” she recalled. The flare-up was so severe that production on her show had to shut down for a day while she sought medical attention.
Spelling noticed a clear pattern: stress triggered her flare-ups. “I tend to have flare-ups every time I get significantly stressed,” she said. “I can almost know if things emotionally and mentally get too much, I’m like, oh, here’s what’s coming next. It’s gonna be a flare-up.”
Research supports Spelling’s observation. A 2022 review links having eczema with a higher risk of depression and anxiety, while another study found that psychological stress can worsen inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
A Mental Toll
Living with a visible skin condition meant Spelling became hyper-aware of others’ reactions. As someone who often shows her hands on camera, she felt the stares. “People just automatically will look at my hands, and I would always wonder, ‘Do they see scabs on my hands?'” she shared.
At photo shoots, Spelling developed a habit of requesting only long sleeves. “When you’re going through a bad flare-up, putting anything on it is excruciating, so [you can’t] even cover it with makeup,” she explained.
The mental burden of her condition was just as challenging as the physical symptoms. “I would lose focus on what was being said because I always thought [my eczema was] all they were looking at,” she said.
A Mother’s Pain
The challenges of managing her own eczema were compounded by watching her daughter Stella struggle with the condition. Stella has dealt with eczema since she was little, particularly on her scalp.
“The bullying got to the point where she literally didn’t want to go back to school,” Spelling said. “She missed a huge part of sixth grade because she would just be lying on the couch, covered in a blanket, and she would just be hysterically crying that she did not want to go to school.”
As a mother, Spelling felt helpless—and desperate for a solution. “I kind of had given up hope for myself, but I was like, my kid’s young, she has her whole life ahead of her. I don’t want her not to have solutions. This doesn’t feel fair.”
Finding Hope and Breaking the Stigma
After years of trying steroid creams with no success, Spelling’s dermatologist suggested trying ZORYVE (roflumilast), a non-steroidal topical treatment. “In a couple of weeks after first trying it, I really noticed a difference,” she said.
The relief wasn’t just physical. Seeing Stella regain her confidence was particularly meaningful. “Stella is a senior now, she’s thriving, she has a great group of friends, she feels good about herself,” Spelling shared.
For Spelling, finding an effective treatment meant more than just clearer skin. “Grateful is the word that always comes to mind when I think about finding my own personal solution with ZORYVE for Stella and me,” she said.
Now, Spelling wants to raise awareness about eczema. “I feel like so many people deal with it silently, because they feel ashamed, or they think it’s not that bad. But they shouldn’t have to live with it if they can find a solution that works for them,” she emphasized.
Conclusion
Tori Spelling’s journey with eczema highlights how a common but often misunderstood condition can profoundly impact a person’s life. From the physical discomfort to the emotional toll and the challenges of managing a visible condition, Spelling’s experience resonates with many who face similar struggles. Her story serves as a reminder that finding effective treatments and breaking the stigma around conditions like eczema are crucial steps toward improving quality of life
