Art Garfunkel Opens Up About His Struggle with Psoriasis (Exclusive)

• Art Garfunkel is opening up for the first time about his psoriasis diagnosis 
• The singer partnered with Sun Pharma on the “I LUV YA for The Long Haul” campaign, which to him is about love, support and showing others they are not alone
• He talks with PEOPLE about having to take a step back from touring, and his recent album with his son, Art Garfunkel Jr.

Art Garfunkel is ready to share his diagnosis with the world. 

After taking a hiatus from touring and being in the public eye, the eight-time Grammy winner, 83, is opening up about his health, the love his family continues to give him and the recent work with his son, Art Garfunkel Jr.

With the support of his sons and his wife, Kim Garfunkel, he tells PEOPLE exclusively that he is ready to be seen again. 

“Psoriasis is something I lived with quietly for many years. It was part of my life even during my most public moments, including on tours, but I rarely, if ever, spoke about it,” Garfunkel explains. “I found ways to cover it on stage, in photos and in my day-to-day life. It’s not something people would have known by looking at me, but it was always there, under the surface. I am just glad it never made its way into the music. I’m happy about that change in my life.”

“My treatment journey was long, and it wasn’t easy. Over the course of decades, I tried many approaches — different creams, remedies, even treatments involving UV light and tar. I remember being completely covered in tar; what a mess. Some gave me temporary relief, but nothing really lasted — it was a frustrating cycle,” he continues.

“The itching always came right back, and so did the scales. It was so uncomfortable,” he adds. “I’m lucky to have such a great dermatologist, and eventually, he told me about ILUMYA, a biologic I hadn’t tried. After my first few doses, my skin began to clear up, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the need to hide. Life started to change for me.” 

Garfunkel addresses the fact that he had to cancel tour dates due to his health, saying, “Performing is such a big part of who I am, so having to step back because of my psoriasis was difficult. I could be in front of thousands of people but still have to cover up. It can affect your confidence, your comfort in your own skin, and it isolates you in ways people don’t always see.”

Through the “I LUV YA for The Long Haul” campaign, for which he is a paid spokesperson, Garfunkel joins a community of ILUMYA patients shedding light on the emotional toll of psoriasis, and empowering others living with the condition to find the best treatment for them.

“With a treatment that works for me, and the support from the love of my life, Kim, and the rest of my family, I am in a different place,” he says. “I realized that sharing my story might help someone else who is still in the thick of it. By revealing my story, I want to reach someone who is struggling with psoriasis and let them know you are not alone and that there is hope to place psoriasis in the rearview mirror of your life. That’s why I partnered with Sun Pharma on the ‘I LUV YA for The Long Haul’ campaign — it’s about love, support and showing others they are not alone.”

Garfunkel credits his whole family, but specifically Kim, for helping him through his health journey and understanding its different phases. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.  

“My beautiful wife Kim has always seen the real me and supported me with love and without condition,” he shares. “Even before I opened up about my psoriasis, she sensed I was holding something back. It impacted our intimacy. Kim supported me through all my flare-ups, helped me through it and made me realize I didn’t have to carry it all by myself,” he says. “With Kim beside me, I am never alone. Once I explained what I was going through to her, I suddenly felt lighter. That kind of unconditional love and attraction, as well as Kim’s never-ending support, changes everything. Ultimately, this experience actually brought us closer.”

Garfunkel recently worked with his son, singer Art Garfunkel Jr, 34, on the LP Father and Son, with the pair calling themselves “Garfunkel and Garfunkel.” The LP was released in November 2024. 

“I have such a wonderful family — my wife Kim and our two beautiful sons, AJ and Beau, are fantastic. We even perform together now, which is such a joy. Sharing the stage with them — and doing it while feeling fully comfortable in my skin — has brought me a whole new kind of peace. I am ready for everything good.”