Mercedes Yvette, contestant on the first season of America’s Next Top Model, was diagnosed with lupus in 2003. She is a spokeswoman for the Lupus Foundation of America.
At age 23, Seal developed Discoid lupus Erythematosus. Only ten percent of lupus patients have DLE, which can result in thick, scaly lesions related to sun exposure.
Toni Braxton revealed to her family on an episode of her Braxton Family Values reality show that she has lupus. She was hospitalized last year for a lupus flare up.
Shortly after he died, Michael Jackson’s friend and spiritual adviser Deepak Chopra revealed to People magazine that Jackson suffered from lupus.
Snoop Dogg’s daughter Cori was diagnosed with lupus in 2005. The rapper said the illness united his family.
Miami rapper Trick Daddy revealed that he has lupus in a 2009 radio interview. He said he chooses to treat his discoid lupus with prescription sunscreen, cortisone shots and healthy living.
Baseball player Tim Raines was stricken with lupus in 1999.
Producer J Dilla died in 2006 reported to complications related to lupus.
Nick Cannon was hospitalized for mild kidney failure in January. The rapper and actor told People magazine this month that he suffers from a lupus-like autoimmune disease that has contributed to constant health problems throughout his life.
Cannon is the latest black celebrity to go public with an autoimmune disease, particularly lupus, which stars like Toni Braxton and the late hip-hop producer, J. Dilla have battled.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, an estimated 1.5 Americans have Lupus. Studies show that it is genetically linked. Black women, in particular, are three times more likely to develop the disease than white women and it appears at an earlier age and is more severe among people of color.
In 2010, the FDA approved the first lupus drug in 50 years for use.
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