John Cena explains what prompted his mindset shift regarding skin care.
Speaking to Us Weekly, the former Undisputed WWE Champion admitted that struggling with hair loss had a profound impact on him. He credited his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, with supporting him through that period and helping him open up about something he had previously found difficult to discuss.
“I really struggled with losing my hair, and to be able to openly talk with my bride about it [did that]. She kind of held my hand. Here’s some big, tough guy who thinks he’s indestructible. … None of us are perfect. We’re all flawed. If you can be vulnerable, there’s beauty in that,” John Cena said.
He added that this stage of his life has been defined by being more open about his hair transplant journey and encouraging others to prioritize their health, including protecting themselves from the sun after undergoing difficult medical procedures related to skin cancer.
“This is the new chapter: my hair transplant, me being an advocate for sunscreen because I was an idiot and didn’t put on sunscreen. I’ve had to go through some pretty tough phone calls and pretty tough procedures with that.”
John Cena reflects on his skin cancer diagnosis
Cena acknowledged that he once believed he was too young and resilient to face serious health problems. He emphasized that the warnings people often hear from parents and loved ones should not be ignored, as skin cancer is a very real threat that can affect anyone.
“I thought I was young and bulletproof. That’s not true. And man, you hear from your friends or guardians as a young person, ‘Put on sunscreen!’ You don’t think it’s going to affect you — it’s real and it can affect you.”
During a 2025 interview with People magazine, Cena disclosed that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer on two separate occasions.
“Man, that phone call’s not what you want to get because it is unpredictable and you don’t know how bad it’s going to be.”
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