What are the stories behind some of the most famous celebrity scars? Discover the origins of famous scars worn by Seal, J.R. Martinez, Tina Fey, and more, plus tips for scar management.

Seal’s Discoid Lupus Scars

Grammy award-winning singer Seal is known for the distinct scars on his face and scalp, caused by a skin condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Seal developed DLE as a teenager, which led to permanent scarring. “DLE is a disfiguring disease in which the immune cells attack the skin from underneath, creating inflammatory areas and scarring of the scalp, ears, face, and sometimes chest and arms. The scars that form from the disease are permanent, so prevention and early treatment is the best management,” explained Dr. Jessica Krant, a board-certified dermatologist.

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, a Humvee he was driving hit a landmine, leaving him with burns on more than 40% of his body. Today, the actor and Dancing with the Stars champion views his scars as a gift, and he has visited other wounded veterans to provide them with hope and purpose. “Once a burn patient is stabilized, the treatment depends on how large an area has been affected. New skin must be either taken from another area of the body, grown from the patient’s own cells, or applied from an artificial graft,” said Dr. Krant.

Tina Fey’s Childhood Scar

When the 30 Rock actress was a 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 doesn’t like to publicly 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 to flatten and relax it, using silicone gel sheeting, or occasionally some types of laser may be helpful. Massage and time are also great factors in improving scars,” said Dr. Krant.

Padma Lakshmi’s Car Accident Scar

The former model and host of Top Chef has grown fond of the thick, seven-inch long scar on the front of her arm, which is the result of a car accident that occurred when she was 14. Upset about it at first, Lakshmi has said that she now views it as a source of affirmation instead of 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,” Dr. Krant explained.

Harrison Ford’s Chin Scar

The well-known scar on 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 real life, 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,” said Dr. Krant.

Mary J. Blige’s Mysterious Scar

While 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. Another story is that the scar is from a traumatic event during childhood that she made a pact to never discuss. In one interview, Blige did say, “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 Cleft Lip

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. It typically appears as a scar or notch. Cleft lip is a birth defect that occurs when the upper lip does not fully close during fetal development.

Caring for Your Own Scars

According to Dr. Krant, there are several options for minimizing the appearance of scars, depending on the type and severity. These include injecting corticosteroids to flatten and relax the scar, using silicone gel sheeting, and in some cases, laser treatments. Massage and time are also important factors in improving the look of scars. For deep cuts, it’s important to keep the wound moist with petroleum jelly, protect it from the sun, and seek medical advice on whether suturing would be beneficial.

The stories behind these celebrities’ scars demonstrate that scars can come from a wide range of causes, from skin conditions to accidents to birth defects. While some choose to openly discuss their scars, others prefer to keep the details private. Regardless of the origin, scars can be a source of both pain and affirmation for those who wear them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story behind Seal’s facial scars?

Seal’s distinctive facial and scalp scars are the result of a skin condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which he developed as a teenager. DLE is an autoimmune disease that can cause permanent scarring on the skin.

How did J.R. Martinez get his burn scars?

J.R. Martinez, an actor and former soldier, received severe burns on over 40% of his body when the Humvee he was driving in Iraq hit a landmine in 2003. He has undergone numerous surgeries and therapies to help treat the scarring.

Why doesn’t Tina Fey like to discuss her facial scar?

As a child, Tina Fey was the victim of a random attack where a stranger slashed the left side of her face, leaving a scar. Fey prefers to cover the scar with makeup and does not like to publicly discuss the traumatic origin of the mark.

How did Padma Lakshmi come to have a scar on her arm?

Padma Lakshmi’s seven-inch scar on her arm is the result of a car accident she was in as a teenager. Initially upset by the scar, Lakshmi has since grown to view it as a source of affirmation and part of her interesting past.

What is the story behind the scar on Harrison Ford’s chin?

Harrison Ford’s famous chin scar was earned when he lost control of his car while putting on his seatbelt. The scar has even been written into some of his movie roles, like in Indiana Jones and Working Girl.

How did Mary J. Blige get the scar under her eye?

The origin of the scar below Mary J. Blige’s left eye is a mystery. Rumors suggest it may have come from a fight, or from a traumatic childhood event that the singer has chosen not to discuss publicly.

What is the story behind Joaquin Phoenix’s facial feature?

Joaquin Phoenix was born with a microform cleft, the mildest form of cleft lip. This appears as a scar or notch between his lip and nose, the result of incomplete fetal development of the upper lip.

9 Celebrities With Scars

Some famous people with scars wear them proudly, while some refuse to discuss or acknowledge them. Get the stories behind some of the most famous scars in Hollywood, plus tips on how to care for your own scars.

Medically Reviewed

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images; WENN.com; Alberto Reyes/WENN.com

Hollywood is the land of beautiful people, celebrities who are admired for their good, often perfect looks. But you might be surprised to learn which of the biggest stars sport scars — or where those scars came from. Some embrace them and openly share their stories; others say the topic of their scar is off limits. Take a look at nine of the most famous celebrity scars and discover their origin as well as tips for scar management from Jessica Krant, MD, MPH, a board-certified dermatologist, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and founder of Art of Dermatology in Manhattan.

Seal

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

The Grammy award-winning singer’s voice is unmistakable. But Seal is also known for very characteristic types of scars on his face and scalp, caused by a skin disease called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Seal had the condition as a teenager. “DLE is a disfiguring disease in which the immune cells attack the skin from underneath, creating inflammatory areas and scarring of the scalp, ears, face, and sometimes chest and arms. The scars that form from the disease are permanent, so prevention and early treatment is the best management,” explained Dr. Krant.

J.R. Martinez

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Cpl. J.R. Martinez of the 101st Airborne Division was just 19 when he deployed to Iraq in 2003. Less than a month later, a Humvee he was driving hit a landmine and he received burns on more than 40 percent of his body. Today, the actor and Dancing with the Stars champion views his scars as a gift. Between surgeries and therapies to stretch his tender skin, he has visited other wounded veterans — he gave them hope, and they gave him purpose. “Once a burn patient is stabilized, the treatment depends on how large an area has been affected. New skin must be either taken from another area of the body, grown from the patient’s own cells, or applied from an artificial graft,” said Krant.

Tina Fey

Alberto Reyes/WENN.com

When the 30 Rock actress was a small child, a random stranger walked up to the front yard of Fey’s home and slashed the left side of her face, leaving a scar from just below her cheekbone to under her bottom lip. She doesn’t like to publicly discuss the origin of the scar and covers it with makeup so that it is less noticeable. “There is no single, reliable, perfect scar treatment, but depending on the scar, injecting it with corticosteroid to flatten and relax it, using silicone gel sheeting, or occasionally some types of laser may be helpful. Massage and time are also great factors in improving scars,” Krant said.

Padma Lakshmi

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

The former model and host of Top Chef has grown rather fond of the thick, seven-inch long scar on the front of her arm — the result of a car accident that occurred when she was 14. Upset about it at first, Lakshmi has said that she now views it as a source of affirmation instead of an ugly mark. “I love it because it makes me a person who has an interesting past,” she said in a People.com interview. “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,” Krant said.

Harrison Ford

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

The well-known scar on 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 real life, Ford earned the scar when he lost control of his car putting on his seatbelt while driving. 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,” Krant said.

Mary J. Blige

Kyle Blair/WENN. com

While 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. Another story is that the scar is from a traumatic event during childhood that she made a pact to never discuss. In one interview Blige did say, “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

WENN.com

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. It typically appears as a scar or notch. Cleft lip is a birth defect that develops very early in a pregnancy, before the 10-week mark. About 6,800 babies in the United States are born with some form of cleft lip or cleft palate each year. According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, milder versions of cleft lip, such as the type Phoenix has, occur later in the labial formation, when the process is nearly complete.

Kate Middleton

Getty Images

Being thrust into the limelight after marrying Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge’s looks have been the topic of endless discussion. When a 3-inch long scar was spotted along the left side of her temple, noticeable only because of the way her hair was styled, it became headline news. A spokesman for the Duchess confirmed the scar was the result of a serious surgery Middleton had as a young child, but declined to give further details, stating it was a private matter.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Jim Spellman/Getty Images

Makeup artists are always looking to cover up the 1½ inch scar on the front of Catherine Zeta-Jones’ neck. It’s the result of the tracheotomy she had to have as an infant after a virus she contracted caused breathing difficulties. “I don’t want to hide it,” she has said. “I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t have this scar.” With surgery, there is the risk of scarring at the incision. Typically, scars fade over time, but never completely disappear. For people who would rather not have that reminder, options to help minimize their appearance include dermabrasion, injections, chemical peels, creams, and laser treatments. Researchers continue to look for more effective options, said Krant.

6 Famous Celebrities and Their Scars

Time may heal all wounds, but for scars, it’s the opposite. Whenever the skin is injured, the body’s natural healing response goes into overdrive, working hard to produce extra collagen, which “fills in” and repairs the injured tissue. Scars can develop due to any number of reasons, but they affect almost everyone at some point in our lives.

In fact, you may be surprised to learn how many so-called “perfect” celebrities have scars, though this isn’t too surprising when you stop to consider that scars and beauty aren’t mutually exclusive. Thanks to exciting innovations in the field of Dermatology, however, scar management is better than it’s ever been before. At Kitagawa Dermatology, Dr. Kory Kitagawa offers various treatments to reduce the appearance of unwanted scars, including laser skin resurfacing, laser light therapies, and even soft tissue fillers like Restylane.

That being said, there are some celebrities who not only live with their scars but embrace them. Below you’ll find a list of celebrities who don’t let their scars define who they are or what they do.

1. Michael K. Williams

Michael K. Williams of “The Wire” (as Omar Little) and “Boardwalk Empire” (as Chalky White) fame earned his scar the old-fashioned way: by getting slashed across the face with a razor in a bar fight on his 25th birthday. The scar catapulted him from being a struggling dancer to being cast as iconic characters in movies and television shows.

2. Tina Fey

Brilliant comedian and writer Tina Fey was attacked by a stranger when she just was five years old, playing in the front yard of her suburban home. The little girl thought the person had drawn on her cheek … but the “drawing” was done with a blade. Though she was traumatized at the time, she confidently moved on with her life. She says she usually doesn’t even think about the scar until a cameraman points it out. And honestly, did you ever notice it either?

3. Padma Lakshmi

Celebrity cook, author, and model Padma Lakshmi of “Celebrity Chef” was in a car accident at age 14 that left her with a 7-inch scar on her forearm. She says the scar reminds her that she’s a survivor with an interesting past. She’s so untroubled by the scar that she happily posed nude for a photo shoot in “Allure” magazine.

4. Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford — the original Han Solo in “Star Wars” and also the original Indiana Jones — was given a great backstory for his craggy scar in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Indiana got the scar while he was practicing with his whip. The real story is more mundane: young Harrison started driving before buckling up, was fumbling around for his seatbelt, and rammed into a telephone pole.

5. Catherine Zeta-Jones

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones of “Feud” (as Olivia De Havilland) “The Mask of Zorro” (as Elana) has a scar on her neck that she won’t let make-up artists cover. Why not? That scar saved her life. It marks the spot where doctors performed a tracheotomy on her when she was a child. Good work, docs!

6. Danny Trejo

In the case of character actor Danny Trejo (“Machete”), his entire face is riddled with scars, from acne pock marks to dents left by other boxers’ fists. Once he made it onto a film set, those scars became his bread and butter. His IMDB page sports 538 appearances in films and movies, with about 20 projects for 2018 alone.

Expert Scar Treatment in Hawaii

If you’re not a celebrity, you don’t have to flaunt, celebrate, or even live with your scars. Dr. Kory Kitagawa of Kitagawa Dermatology uses a combination of laser and other dermatologic therapies to improve the appearance of scars. Every scar is unique and has its own story, which is why Dr. Kitagawa works with you on an individual basis to design a scar-improvement strategy that helps you feel like a star again.

We’re located at the Kuakini Medical Plaza, 321 N. Kuakini St, #610, in Honolulu. You can call our helpful office staff or contact us online.  

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AFFILIATIONS

20 stars with scars on their faces and bodies

We love to closely follow the lives of stars, learn about them the latest news and be aware of all the nuances of their appearance! Surely you had to notice a mark in the form of a scar on the body of your favorite artist and, of course, you wanted to know the history of its appearance. So, especially for you, we have compiled a rating of the “scarred” with a short note about each. Read and be enlightened.

Gaspard Ulliel

30 years old, actor

The famous mark on the face of a handsome French man was received at the age of six.
Restless Ulliel jumped on the back of a sleeping Doberman, to which the frightened dog responded with a bite right in the face. The scar of the actor does not bother at all, and the numerous army of female fans too.

Rihanna

26 years old, singer

The scar on Rihanna’s lip was the result of an unhappy love for singer Chris Brown. In 2009, he used physical force on his beloved, leaving an indelible mark on the singer’s beautiful lips.

Harrison Ford

72 years old, actor

He got his trademark mark on his chin at the age of 27 as a result of an accident. The actor hit the steering wheel, which provided himself with a noticeable scar.

Liza Boyarskaya

29 years old, actress

The face of the beautiful Liza Boyarskaya has a small flaw in the form of a scar on her cheek. At nine months, sitting in her mother’s arms, the future actress managed to knock over a table lamp. A fragment of a broken lamp cut the baby’s cheek.

Joaquin Phoenix

40 years old, actor

A noticeable scar on the actor’s face has two versions of origin.
Some say it’s the result of cleft lip surgery. The actor himself claims that he was born that way.

Vera Brezhneva

32 years old, singer

On the right side of the abdomen, the singer has a scar from the removal of the appendix, and on the left – a scar after a cesarean section. The singer adorned the acquired marks with a colored tattoo.

Prince William

32 years old, Duke of Cambridge

William received his mark on his forehead during his school years from a classmate who hit him with a golf club.

Kate Middleton

33 years old, Duchess of Cambridge

The mysterious scar on Middleton’s head raised a real sensation in the press. In photographs taken at one of the charity dinners, journalists saw a thin strip near the temple under the hair. A representative of the royal family said that the scar is a consequence of the operation that the duchess had in childhood.

Jason Momoa

35 years old, actor

The scar on the actor’s eyebrow makes more than one woman’s heart flutter. He got such a mark after a fight in a bar and gives the image even more masculinity. Although it would seem, where else … nomu way of life.

Tommy Flanagan

49 years old, actor

The scars of this actor are immediately evident and terrify fans.
Tommy got them in his younger years during one of the parties. Unidentified perpetrators hit Flanagan in the face with a shard of a glass bottle. As it turned out later, they simply confused him with someone else.

Sandra Bullock

50 years old, actress

Sandra received a barely noticeable scar over her left eye in early childhood. The actress fell into the river from a high hill. Thank God, there were no serious injuries.

Sharon Stone

56 years old, actress

The actress got a scar on her neck also in her childhood. Running across the yard, she caught on a stretched clothesline, which dug into her neck.

Tina Kandelaki

39 years old, TV presenter and journalist

The scar on the left hand of the TV presenter was received in a car accident. Tina disguised the place of a severe burn with a tattoo in the form of an ancient Indian sign of strength.

Mary-Jay Blige

44 years old, singer

The singer acquired a scar under her right eye in her youth, during one of the fights with peers.

Padma Lakshmi

44 years old American television presenter

14 years old in a car accident. Padma barely survived and was treated for a long time after the tragic incident.

Owen Wilson

46 years old, actor

A deep scar on the actor’s arm was the result of a failed suicide attempt.
After a long depression, the actor, who also suffered from drug addiction, tried to cut his veins in his arms. Nilson was saved from death by his own brother, having discovered him in time.

Maksim

31 years old, singer

She got a scar on the bridge of her nose when she was two years old, having run into the kitchen table. The wound even had to be sewn up.

Franck Ribery

31 years old, French footballer

It is simply impossible not to notice the scars on the face of the French footballer. At the age of two, together with his parents, the athlete got into a terrible car accident. Little Ribery flew out through the windshield. This incident could cost the life of a football player and left an indelible reminder on the face.

How people live with birthmarks, burns and scars on the face

First hand

Photos:

Semyon Zemskov, Daria Globina

Text:

Dima Kozachenko

December 20, 2017 18:15

«Afisha Daily » found three people with burns, scars and birthmarks on their faces and she asked about self-acceptance, discrimination at work and society’s reaction to their characteristics.

Victoria Zakharova, 19 years old

Moscow

When I was four years old, I set fire to my dress. The fire spread very quickly, so I couldn’t put it out myself. When the flames spread to the sheet and pillow, my grandmother flew into the room: out of confusion, she tried to take off my dress – and as a result, my face was burned.

Rehabilitation was very difficult. I lay in intensive care for a month almost unconscious. I had a severe pain shock, and also hallucinations in which I allegedly had a second family. In total, I spent about six months in the hospital – most of the time was taken by skin grafting operations and classes with psychologists.

At school they bullied me: they called me “Freddy Krueger”, “fried chicken” and other offensive nicknames, but I ignored all the attacks. Sometimes I was afraid to wear revealing clothes, believing that others might not like it.

A significant contribution to my treatment was made by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, which specializes in helping children with burns. I remember almost nothing about that time, but my mother says that the fund helped me with medicines, gave vouchers to health camps, brought clothes and gifts. Now I am 19 years old, but I still cannot get rid of the fund: all the employees have become family to me.

I have had many laser resurfacing procedures, but the scars cannot be completely removed. This is a very good procedure that helped to remove the most visible part of the burns on the face. I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem accepting scars. Perhaps this is due to the fact that psychologists worked with me in childhood, and my parents also supported me a lot.

When people ask me about burns, they are hoping to hear some very dramatic story, but I say that I look the same as everyone else, only I have a little more scars on my body. They don’t understand how this can be. The biggest problem is that because of the scars, many employers refuse to hire me. At one interview, they told me directly: “You are very good, but we cannot take you because of the burn on your face.”

I currently work as a cashier at Uniqlo. I really like the way they treat me in the company: management and colleagues say that my scars do not affect my personal and professional qualities in any way. I practically do not use cosmetics. It seems to me that masking the scars means denying yourself. I also just don’t want to spoil my skin, because I already look good.

Tatyana Kiseleva, 38 years old

Tyumen

I have had a birthmark since birth. I no longer remember how exactly the diagnosis sounds, but most likely it is a hemangioma. My parents always reacted normally to the spot, and thanks to their upbringing, I did not become an intimidated gray mouse. I was raised as if this spot did not exist. I remember how in childhood I stood at the mirror and tried to wipe the stain with my fingers, and my mother said that this was not necessary.

In childhood, there were sidelong glances and name-calling from peers, but they also applied to those children who did not have any birthmarks on their faces. Some liked to insult a person just like that. At school, I was a leader, so I immediately stopped such attacks.

Speaking of a more conscious age, there was an unpleasant incident in the accounting course that I attended after school. One day, the principal called my mother to talk about my “noisy behavior in class” and said: “Your daughter acts like she doesn’t have a birthmark. ” Probably, in her opinion, I should have been quiet. Mom didn’t like the manager’s remark very much: she answered her that I was brought up that way, and left.

Once I wanted to get a job as an assistant secretary, but I was refused. No one directly told me about the spot, but I think the reason was that in such a position you need to be the “face of the company.” Now I work as a transport engineer at Roschino airport in Tyumen. They took me without any problems, because my professional skills were the main criterion.

I have a son. When I just got pregnant, I was very worried that the stain might somehow affect it. But he was born completely healthy, he has no birthmarks. He is only two years old so he understands little, but sometimes I say that the spot will help him find me among other people. Once I asked my nephews if they were not shy about me, and they replied: “No one else has such a spot as you have – it means you are special.” It was very nice.

Sometimes strangers look at my spot with an open mouth and bewilderment, but after so many years I have stopped paying attention to it. As a child, my parents took me to various clinics to try to somehow correct the stain, but everything was postponed until my adulthood. Now the stain doesn’t bother me, I don’t even try to make it up.

Gennady Naryshkin, 29 years old

Moscow

My scar is the result of a work injury. I worked with an electric saw that flew off and sawed out part of my face. There was a lot of blood and skin around. This happened because I neglected safety precautions. I was 18 years old.

I was in shock at first, but I quickly recovered. The ambulance arrived three hours later, after I myself had already gone to the hospital, sewed up the wound and came home. The doctor in the hospital was cheerful, tried to support me, told jokes. At that moment, I was in a state of complete euphoria, because sensitivity is dulled from a large loss of blood, you do not feel pain.

Since the wound was lacerated, there were not enough pieces of skin to sew it up without a trace. The doctors had to tighten everything carefully, and as a result I had a large scar on the left side of my face. I was warned about this even before the operation.

At first it was difficult to recover: I couldn’t chew, so I had to grind all the food into porridge and eat it through a straw. Six months later, the wound was completely healed. Friends, when they saw the scar, were surprised at first, and then stopped paying attention to it. Some even said he was funny.

In life, the scar does not bother me in any way, I don’t even remember about it. In the army they called me Tony Montana. In general, I like that people in the subway don’t push me and bypass me — even the police don’t stop me. I work as an engineer, I am engaged in design, so the presence of a scar did not affect my work in any way.

My wife and I met before I had a scar. He doesn’t bother us. My wife says that with him I have a very memorable appearance, it’s hard to get lost in the crowd. It’s true: for example, stores no longer ask for a passport when I buy cigarettes. I treat my scar with humor, because this is not my only injury: my fingers were sewn on several times – everyone is already used to this.