Television presenter Melanie Sykes has unveiled her fully bald head in a defiant social media post, embracing her appearance as she continues to battle alopecia.
The 55-year-old former model shared a beaming selfie on Instagram on Sunday, accompanied by the simple yet powerful message: “Loss + Gain = Life.”
The photograph arrives shortly after Ms Sykes opened up about the severity of her autoimmune hair loss condition, which has progressed considerably over recent months.
In her post, the presenter struck an optimistic tone, writing: “Life is so good, and I know it because I’m right here right now and there’s nothing to fear. There is nothing to fear.”
Melanie Sykes has unveiled her fully bald head in a defiant social media post
|
GETTY
She had previously shared images displaying significant hair loss on both sides of her head, using the hashtag “#Liberty.”
Ms Sykes has revealed that approximately two-thirds of her hair has now fallen out due to the condition.
Speaking about her situation, she said: “I’m two-thirds bald, really. Every time I say I’m bald I laugh, I don’t know why… Thank God I can laugh.”
The presenter has been managing multiple health challenges alongside the hair loss, including persistent inflammation throughout her body.
“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 explained.
Her deteriorating health also forced her to withdraw from completing a meditation teacher training course.
“I was too ill to finish it like. The last two days of it I couldn’t do,” Ms Sykes admitted, adding that she has been “living a very, very very spiritual existence.”
Ms Sykes first spoke publicly about her diagnosis last year, attributing her health decline to stress triggered by media coverage surrounding allegations against television chef Gino D’Acampo.
The pair worked together on the ITV programme Let’s Do Lunch with Gino and Mel between 2011 and 2014.
“I went into the New Year with so much energy. I’ve slowed things down because I got a heart problem, which I developed during the whole Gino D’Acampo bull**** that happened in the news,” she said in a video posted to her YouTube channel.
The presenter blamed her condition on “PTSD, shock, mistreatment and malpractice.”
“And suddenly, the stress levels in my life shot up because I left that industry years ago but it won’t leave me alone,” she added.
Ms Sykes first spoke publicly about her diagnosis last year
|
GETTY
Alopecia occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles, causing hair to shed. The condition can range from small circular bald patches to complete scalp hair loss, known as alopecia totalis, or total body hair loss in rarer cases called alopecia universalis.
While no cure currently exists, treatments such as steroid injections, topical medications and immunotherapy may help stimulate regrowth in some patients.
Despite her struggles, Ms Sykes has maintained a resilient attitude and prefers not to dwell on her condition. “It’s not like I’m hiding it, I’d just rather have conversation about something else because I’ve got that down and I’m healing myself,” she said.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ve got me, I’ve always got me, I’ve learned to really take care of myself in the last two years.”