Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Raymond Hall/GC Images
Topics: Justin Bieber, Health, Mental Health, NHS
Jen Thomas
Topics: Justin Bieber, Health, Mental Health, NHS
Justin Bieber shared how he was made to deny 'drug problems', saying that his physical appearance was because of a chronic illness.
The 'Baby' singer has long been dealing with accusations of drug misuse and addiction, after struggling when he was younger.
Justin, who is now father to a son, Jack, with his wife Hailey, once had to issue a statement about his health condition which he had kept private.
He was pushed into sharing the news of his health after trolls were making cruel comments about his appearance, saying he looked like he was 'on meth'.
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Back in 2020, Justin revealed he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
According to the NHS, Lyme disease is a 'bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks'.
It occurs after being bitten by an infected tick, with a range of symptoms such as; a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery, headaches, muscle and joint pain and tiredness accompanied with a loss of energy.
People are advised to keep an eye out for a distinctive 'bullseye' or 'target' shaped rash, with a red ring forming around a tick bite in the middle.
In the days or weeks after being bitten, it is common for sufferers to experience flu-like symptoms.
However, not everybody displays the bullseye rash, which means it can be frequently missed or diagnosed as a virus instead.
The earlier it is diagnosed, the better the prognosis is for Lyme, which is usually treated with antibiotics and steroids.
Justin broke the news on Instagram, where he also lashed out at trolls for making cruel comments and drug accusations.
He insisted: "They failed to realise I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health."
He told fans he was getting 'the right treatment' to treat the condition, and had been 'battling' and 'overcoming' it.
"It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever," he added.
Just weeks after revealing his health news, Justin pleaded with the press not to use sickly images of him, saying the outlets were trying to 'legitimately sabotage' him.
He wrote: "I don’t know what the algorithm is for why certain photos come up.
"But this is so frustrating considering that I took a lot of time to get healthy and I feel as though people try to legitimately sabotage me."
He continued: "There was a time where I was really unhealthy. I was battling Lyme disease, right? All of the top photos are me looking disheveled, right?
"I was obviously going through a tough time, but it’s like, these are the photos that the media tries to run with."
Justin isn't alone in his experience of Lyme disease, as multiple celebrities have said they experienced it, including the likes if Yolanda Hadid, Bella Hadid, Ben Stiller, Amy Schumer, Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne and Riley Keough.