Television personality Melanie Sykes has shared a candid health update with her followers, revealing she is living with significant pain following a diagnosis of an autoimmune condition.
A Candid Health Revelation on Social Media
In a video posted to her Instagram account on Sunday, the 55-year-old star appeared wrapped in a jumper, jacket, scarf, and hat as she explained her ongoing struggles. Sykes disclosed that the condition has left her 'two-thirds bald' and is accompanied by excessive inflammation across her entire body.
"I'm not well, as you know, I’ve been ill all year, I've got an autoimmune condition, I am losing my hair, I keep having crazy inflammation all over and I am working on healing," she told viewers. Despite the physical challenges, Sykes emphasised her commitment to a positive and spiritual path, revealing she recently undertook a meditation teacher training course.
Detailing the Struggle with Alopecia and Health System Challenges
The former Today with Des and Mel host first gave insight into her hair loss in April, posting a photo that showed a bald spot on her head. She explained the image was taken while she was in London investigating health issues. She stated she is "experiencing alopecia and heart issues", which she attributes to PTSD, shock, mistreatment, and malpractice over recent months.
In a separate YouTube video, Sykes went into further detail, parting her hair to show the extent of the loss. "I'm experiencing alopecia in quite a significant way. I've lost inches off my hairline at the back and probably got half my hair at the moment," she noted. The mother-of-two also linked her condition to severe stress and insomnia.
Her experience led to strong criticism of the UK's healthcare system. She urged the country to "do better, and get better," describing services as "utterly shocking," with only rare exceptions of decent, non-judgemental care.
A Focus on Spirituality and Recovery
Amid the hardship, Sykes is channelling her energy into healing and spirituality. "Mostly I’ve been living a very, very, very spiritual existence," she shared, encouraging others to explore meditation. Although too ill to complete the final two days of her training course, she has reignited her YouTube channel to share her journey.
There is a hopeful note in her prognosis regarding her hair. She has seen a scalp specialist who has confirmed her hair will grow back, and she is currently undergoing treatment.
Melanie Sykes rose to fame in a 1996 Boddingtons Bitter advert and enjoyed a successful TV career, including co-hosting a daytime show with the late Des O'Connor and finishing in third place on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2014.
