Six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa is no stranger to pressure-packed moments in front of massive crowds. But recently, the fan-favorite golfer opened up about a far more personal battle – living for nearly two decades with seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that quietly impacted his daily life.
Now, Homa is sharing his story as part of the Free to Be Me awareness campaign with Arcutis Biotherapeutics, hoping to encourage others to stop self-diagnosing and start real conversations with healthcare providers.
What Is Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis, often called “seb derm,” is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects an estimated 10 million Americans. According to board-certified dermatologist Tina Bhutani- Jacques, it commonly appears on areas with oil-producing glands, including the scalp, face, beard, chest, and upper back.
“It presents as red or sometimes purple scaly plaques with a greasy yellow scale,” Bhutani-Jacques explained. “It can be itchy, uncomfortable, and very visible – which means it can have a huge impact on quality of life.”
While it’s often mistaken for simple dandruff or dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis is driven by deeper biological factors.
“We used to think it was mainly caused by yeast overgrowth,” Bhutani-Jacques said. “But what we’ve learned is that it’s really related to chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and skin barrier dysfunction. Your immune system is essentially overactive in the skin.”
Environmental triggers, like weather changes, stress, and travel, can also worsen flare-ups for many patients.
“I Just Always Assumed It Was Dry Skin”
For Homa, the condition began back in high school, initially showing up as what looked like dandruff.
“I was young and thought, ‘Oh, this stinks,’” he said. “And for basically the next 20 years, I was just trying to hide it.”
Over time, the symptoms spread to redness around his nose and irritation in his beard. Like many people with seb derm, Homa cycled through countless over-the-counter shampoos and lotions, hoping something would finally work.
“Some days it would be super stiff. Some days it was legitimately painful,” he said. “Most days, I was just self-conscious.”
That self-consciousness was magnified by his profession.
“I play golf in front of people. I do interviews,” Homa explained. “Some mornings I’d wake up nervous to see how my face would look.”
Travel made things worse. Living in Scottsdale but competing across different climates, Homa noticed flare-ups often increased when he was on the road.
“That was the worst time, because that’s when I had to see people,” he said. “It’s such a small thing to some, but to me, it was a constant thought.”
While Homa says he doesn’t think about his skin once he steps onto the course, “I’m usually just thinking about birdies and bogeys,” he admitted the stress leading up to tournament days was real.
“There were mornings I’d stop at a pharmacy trying to buy something over the counter, thinking it was going to fix it,” he said. “You’re definitely thinking about it.”
It wasn’t until his wife, Lacey, finally nudged him to see a dermatologist that things began to change.
Finally Getting Answers – and Relief
After receiving a proper diagnosis, Homa was prescribed ZORYVE foam, a once-daily, steroid-free topical treatment.
“It was pretty amazing how quickly it helped me,” he said. “Now it’s just part of my routine. I don’t think about it much anymore.”
Looking back, he realizes how much emotional energy the condition consumed.
“Every morning I used to wake up kind of nervous,” Homa said. “Now, I just go live my life.”
Bhutani-Jacques says Homa’s experience is incredibly common.
“I hear this story all the time,” she said. “People delay seeking care, try everything on their own, and assume it’s just dandruff. By the time they see a dermatologist, they’ve often been struggling for years.”
She emphasized that modern treatments have evolved significantly, with clinical studies showing that many patients using ZORYVE foam achieved clear or almost clear skin within eight weeks, along with meaningful itch relief.
Why Homa Decided to Speak Out
Despite spending years trying to conceal his symptoms, Homa ultimately agreed to share his journey publicly – something he admits wasn’t easy.
“It was hard, because it’s public,” he said. “But then I realized, if there’s one kid or one person who gets better because they hear, ‘Hey, it’s not that bad to go get this checked out,’ then it’s worth it.”
The campaign’s message, Free to Be Me, hit home.
“You don’t want to wake up thinking about your appearance,” Homa said. “I just want to go play golf and try to be the best golfer I can be.”
He also hopes his story encourages men, in particular, to stop avoiding doctors.
“I tried everything under the sun except actually seeing a professional,” Homa admitted. “Which makes no sense now.”
What Is the Free to Be Me Campaign?
Homa’s decision to go public is part of Arcutis’ Free to Be Me awareness campaign, an initiative designed to spotlight real stories from people living with inflammatory skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.
The goal is simple: help patients feel seen, reduce stigma, and encourage earlier conversations with healthcare providers, especially for conditions that are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or brushed off as cosmetic issues.
Bhutani-Jacques emphasized that visibility matters.
“By tagging someone identifiable to a disease, it makes it more relatable,” she said. “Patients don’t feel alone anymore. They can say, ‘Max Homa has this too,’ and that can be incredibly empowering.”
For Homa, the campaign represents more than just awareness; it’s about giving others permission to prioritize their health.
“You don’t want to wake up and be thinking about your appearance,” he said. “You just want to go live your life. …
“If there’s one kid or one person who hears this and decides to go get checked out, that’s worth it,” Homa said. “I tried everything except seeing a professional. Hopefully this helps people skip that part.”
A Message for Anyone Struggling
Today, Homa says his seborrheic dermatitis no longer dominates his mornings, or his mindset. His advice to others dealing with persistent skin issues is simple:
“If it’s a big deal to you, like it was to me, there’s an option out there,” he said. “You might as well go get it looked at and get it figured out.”
Before wrapping up the interview, Homa left one final message:
“Procrastination is bad. We all do it. Hopefully this helps people hyperspeed that process.”
Max Homa Joins Awareness Campaign, Opens Up About a Private Struggle