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'It's been rough': Justin Bieber confirms Lyme disease diagnosis

Justin Bieber has confirmed that he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

The Yummy singer also revealed he has been diagnosed with a "serious case" of chronic infectious mononucleosis (mono), which has affected his skin and "overall health."

Justin Bieber has announced he's been diagnosed with lyme disease. Photo: Getty Images
Justin Bieber has announced he's been diagnosed with lyme disease. Photo: Getty Images

"While a lot of people kept saying justin Bieber looks like s***, on meth etc. they failed to realize 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," Bieber, 25, wrote on Instagram.

"These things will be explained further in a docu series I'm putting on YouTube shortly.. you can learn all that I've been battling and OVERCOMING!! 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 NO CAP."

TMZ reported that Bieber addresses his Lyme journey in his upcoming documentary, including the "scary symptoms he endured in 2019."

Apparently much of the year Bieber's condition went undiagnosed and he battled extreme depression. The singer opened up about mental health struggles various times last year on social media.

Yahoo Entertainment spoke with RN and Functional Nutrition Coach, Christina Tidwell, about the relatively unknown disease.

"Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks," Tidwell, the owner of Live Well With Christina, explains.

"It’s typically said that you’ll notice a 'bulls eye rash.' However, few people with Lyme disease actually recall a prior tick bite and, in up to 30 percent of cases, this bulls eye rash doesn’t appear.

“It’s important to note that Lyme disease affects people differently and the symptoms that come up will look different from person to person as well. Once someone is infected the immune system may respond immediately causing more acute symptoms like headaches, fatigue, rash, chills and muscle pain."

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are seen on the street attending John Elliott during New York Fashion Week SS19 on September 6, 2018 in New York City.
Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Baldwin are seen on the street during New York Fashion Week on September 6, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Getty Images

Bieber is not the first celebrity to come forward with his Lyme diagnosis.

In 2015, Avril Lavigne said she was bedridden for five months. The tick-born disease was part of Yolanda Hadid’s storyline on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she left the Bravo show after a difficult season when some co-stars doubted her diagnosis.

Yolanda’s kids, models Bella and Anwar Hadid, plus Ben Stiller, Shania Twain, Kelly Osbourne and Alec Baldwin have also opened up about struggling with Lyme.

Bieber’s 10-part docu-series, Justin Bieber: Seasons, premieres Jan. 27 at 12:00 p.m. on YouTube. The episodes will air on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Words by Taryn Ryder

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