What are the stories behind the famous scars of Hollywood celebrities? Discover the origins of the scars of Seal, J.R. Martinez, Tina Fey, Padma Lakshmi, Harrison Ford, Mary J. Blige, and Joaquin Phoenix.

Seal’s Discoid Lupus Scars

Seal, the Grammy award-winning singer, is known for the distinctive scars on his face and scalp caused by a skin condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). DLE is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the skin, leading to inflammation, scarring, and permanent disfigurement of the scalp, ears, face, chest, and arms. “Prevention and early treatment is the best management for DLE scars,” explains dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant.

J.R. Martinez’s Burn Scars

Cpl. J.R. Martinez of the 101st Airborne Division was just 19 when he was deployed to Iraq in 2003. Less than a month later, the Humvee he was driving hit a landmine, and he received burns on more than 40% of his body. Today, the actor and Dancing with the Stars champion views his scars as a gift, finding purpose in visiting and inspiring other wounded veterans. “Once a burn patient is stabilized, the treatment depends on the extent of the affected area. New skin must be taken from another part of the body, grown from the patient’s own cells, or applied from an artificial graft,” says Dr. Krant.

Tina Fey’s Childhood Scar

When 30 Rock actress Tina Fey was a small child, a random stranger slashed the left side of her face, leaving a scar from just below her cheekbone to under her bottom lip. Fey does not like to discuss the origin of the scar and covers it with makeup to make it less noticeable. “There is no single, reliable, perfect scar treatment, but depending on the scar, injecting it with corticosteroid, using silicone gel sheeting, or occasionally some types of laser may be helpful. Massage and time are also great factors in improving scars,” says Dr. Krant.

Padma Lakshmi’s Car Accident Scar

The former model and host of Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi, has a thick, seven-inch long scar on the front of her arm, the result of a car accident that occurred when she was 14 years old. Initially upset about the scar, Lakshmi has since grown fond of it, viewing it as a source of affirmation rather than an ugly mark. “On rare occasion, a scar can be cut out and re-stitched to make a less visible scar after a long time of initial healing, for a thinner, flatter scar,” says Dr. Krant.

Harrison Ford’s Scar

The well-known scar on actor Harrison Ford’s chin has even been written into some of his movies – it was from a whip in Indiana Jones and an ear piercing gone wrong in Working Girl. In reality, Ford earned the scar when he lost control of his car while putting on his seatbelt. “When a deep cut occurs, you may be able to minimize scarring with fast action. Keep the wound moist with petroleum jelly and out of the sun, and seek a doctor’s advice immediately to see if it’s the type of wound that would benefit from suturing,” advises Dr. Krant.

Mary J. Blige’s Mysterious Scar

Grammy award-winning singer Mary J. Blige has never acknowledged how she got the scar below her left eye. Rumors abound that it resulted from a fight she had with another woman, or that it’s from a traumatic event during her childhood that she vowed to never discuss. In one interview, Blige said, “If I don’t accept the scar on my face, the lips that God gave me, the big giant feet, the long legs, whatever it is that I’m deformed with, I got to love it so everybody else can love it. And I started loving it.”

Joaquin Phoenix’s Microform Cleft

Actor Joaquin Phoenix was born with what looks like a type of scar between his lip and nose. It’s actually a microform cleft, the mildest form of cleft lip. This condition typically appears as a scar or indentation in the upper lip, rather than a complete cleft.

Caring for Scars

According to Dr. Jessica Krant, there are a few key steps to caring for scars and minimizing their appearance:

• Keep new wounds moist with petroleum jelly and out of the sun
• Seek a doctor’s advice on whether suturing could benefit the wound
• Consider corticosteroid injections, silicone gel sheeting, or certain laser treatments to flatten and relax scars
• Allow time and massage to improve the appearance of scars

While some celebrities choose to embrace their scars, others prefer to conceal them. Regardless of the approach, the stories behind these famous scars offer insight into the resilience and strength of the individuals who bear them.