“My self-confidence was so destroyed”: Zane Smith’s wife McCall expresses her emotions on the ‘embarrassing’ aftermath of her skin problem

McCall Smith recalled her battle with perioral dermatitis shortly after her wedding with Zane Smith early in January of 2024. She revealed losing self-confidence even while being around her family.

McCall remains fairly active on social media and sometimes reshares the pictures from her wedding with Zane Smith. Posting another picture from the same time, she shared a "vulnerable" (as she titled it) post on her Instagram story, sharing her battle with a skin condition called "perioral dermatitis." This type of dermatitis affects a fairly large number of people every year, but this was something new for McCall, as she recalled.

She said that days before her wedding, she started noticing a rash on her face, which she covered with makeup and was able to make it through her wedding. Forgetting about it rather quickly, the rash reappeared with severe symptoms. She shared the story with her followers, writing:

"As time went on, my face went back to pretty clear, but here and there I would have a tiny flare up of that rash again! So at this point, I started to Google and look up on TikTok (haha I know, don't hate) my symptoms with what I had going on, and started to compare. After doing research, and then eventually going to a dermatologist, I have what is called 'PERIORAL DERMATITS.'"

In a further story, McCall revealed that she never had been prone to acne so this was something new for her and it would go on to affect her entire personality for the coming time. Although it was seemingly a tough time for her, she managed to fight through it.

"My self confidence was so destroyed for a really long time (before I got it under control) because it wasn't something I was ever used to. I was so embarrassed to be in public. I was so embarrassed to even be around Zane and family in our own house. I know that sounds crazy but really, no one understands how much acne/dermatitis can take a tole on your self confidence."

Screengrabs from McCall Smith's Instagram story (@mccallkelli)

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McCall Smith said she went through this around the same time as Zane Smith's departure from Trackhouse Racing was announced

Zane Smith signed a multi-year driver development deal with Trackhouse Racing in 2023 and raced full-time for Spire Motorsports in the recent Cup Series season as a part of the relationship between the two teams.

However, Smith's departure from the team was announced in August of 2024. This, as his wife McCall recalled, was around the same time when she was suffering from perioral dermatitis. She said the stress took an additional toll on her body as her condition worsened:

"Those pictures were taken in July- when Zane had unfortunately been let go from his contract and August - when it was going on social media that Zane was being let go.

"What stress can do to your body and overall health, physically and mentally is crazy. We had been going through a really tough time trying to figure out what was next, after thinking we knew the future. And my Perioral dermatitis flared up immediately going through this."

Screengrab of McCall Smith's Instagram story (@mccallkelli)

Zane Smith will not be racing for Spire Motorsports in 2025. While an announcement hasn't been made in his favor, he is expected to strike a deal with Front Row Motorsports for the next season as the team is preparing to expand with a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing.