John Wick impersonator goes public with battle against psoriasis

Well-known Filipino personalities who have psoriasis include comedienne Ai-Ai Delas Alas, singer-songwriter Moira Dela Torre, and pro volleyball player Aby Maraño.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which causes skin to grow and shed much faster than normal resulting in red, itchy, and scaly patches. While it is non-contagious, the patches can become painful depending on the severity. The condition can also affect mental health with many patients feeling insecure and self-conscious of their appearance.

Generally linked to genetics, common triggers of psoriasis can include stress, skin injuries (cuts, vaccination, or sunburn), infection, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Fetalvo cites extreme stress and changing weather patterns worsened his condition.

Psoriasis continues to plague Filipinos for years affecting almost 2.4% (1.8 to 2 million) of the population based on data from the Philippine Dermatological Society. But health experts and advocates aren’t convinced with the numbers since many Filipinos, especially in rural areas, remain undiagnosed.

As of 2026, psoriasis has no permanent cure, but modern treatments can help control the symptoms such as steroid creams, phototherapy, vitamin D3 cream, and the recently FDA-approved oral peptide, icotrokinra.

Netizens and fans showered the John Wick impersonator with support, while others admired his courage to showcase vulnerability as strength.

“Dapat new name mo is “John Strong” kasi hindi ka naman talaga Weak,” said in one comment.

For the meantime, Fetalvo has taken a temporary hiatus from his activities and plans to focus on his recovery.

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