Being a social media star may seem like the high life but Nara Smith, fashion model-turned-TikTok creator just pulled back the curtain on all that appears glitz and glam by getting candid about her struggles with eczema, which, more recently, led to a lupus diagnosis.
Just short of 24 hours ago, the mum-of-three took to Instagram with a five-part carousel post showing a series of eczema flare-ups. Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition that causes inflammation and dry skin. Severity varies from person to person, but as Nara shows and explains, she has struggled with flare-ups on her hands, scalp, face and arms.
"TW: Eczema It’s been about 3 years since my eczema started flaring up severely. I had just given birth to my second child. It started off as a small cracked patch of dry skin that I just moisturized and ignored," Nara writes.
"My eczema spread rapidly starting on the palms of my hands and making its way onto my back,arms, scalp and eventually my face. I felt exhausted and my body ached so bad, that on some days I couldn’t move or hold my babies. As time went on my hair fell out in clumps and I could never shake this lingering cold feeling I felt in my body. I spend nights researching eczema since I thought that’s all I had."
Continuing, Nara says how she "drastically" changed her diet in the hopes of improving her eczema. "I [...] swapped out all my products for more natural options. I would go through phases of it healing (never fully clearing up) and then flaring up. I saw multiple dermatologist and always got the same answer: severe eczema. I got sent home defeated, not listened to and with a paper bag full of steroid creams," she says.
However, after putting up with years of suffering, it wasn't until Nara got a bed-bounding infection that led her to take matters further.
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"After two years of struggling and over analyzing everything I put in and on my body I had the biggest flareup, which lead to a severe infection. Every part of my body was covered in inflamed, oozing, itchy and swollen skin. I woke up with my eyes swollen shut and my hands not functioning. I stopped eating completely, l paralyzed by the fear of making it worse.
"In a state of desperation, I got on a flight to Germany seeking help from naturopaths, doctors and other specialists and finally got a diagnosis: Lupus."
Lupus affects mainly women (90% of sufferers are female, in fact) and is a disease that causes your immune system to attack all your healthy organs and tissues. Many people with lupus do not receive a diagnosis straight away because it can mimic other conditions; virtually any symptom of illness or inflammation can signal lupus.
Nara says that from that moment on, "like a puzzle all the pieces fell into place."
"[...] all my symptoms made sense- from my purple hands that felt frozen, to my extreme fatigue, my hair loss and sores. It all made sense now. I felt relieved because I finally had an answer but I was equally scared of what this meant for my life and my kids. It’s been a learning curve and I’m still learning and adjust day by day🤍
"I’m sharing this in the hopes of giving someone hope, comfort or the strength to keep pushing when things get really hard and lonely❤️🩹."
We hope Nara is adjusting to such lifestyle and health changes, and above all, is doing well.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your GP, dermatologist or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
