Exclusive:
Two doctors have shed light on the symptoms of a little-known health condition, after Kaz Crossley’s heart-breaking experience
Reality star Kaz Crossley is set to take part in this year’s Love Island All Stars, alongside Gabby Allen, Curtis Pritchard and other familiar faces. The 29-year-old was thrown into the spotlight in 2018, after ranking third with then-partner Josh Denzel.
But life hasn’t always been easy for the London-born star. In the past, she’s been candid about suffering an ‘unpredictable’ health problem that once left her ‘consumed with sadness’.
Such a health issue is alopecia – an umbrella term to describe sudden hair loss across the face, body or scalp. In 2023, Kaz hinted that stress is the main trigger for her alopecia, though it can also be influenced by injuries, illness and environmental factors.
“I became consumed with sadness every time I looked in the mirror and made it worse in my head,” she said in an Instagram post at the time. “…Even if my mental health is in a better place now, no one talks about how hard it is to navigate feeling ‘better’, the PTSD and feeling of anxiety thinking that something bad will happen.
“It’s a s*** feeling not feeling like the person you were before. It’s also s*** being aware you don’t ever want to feel like that again and everything you do is consumed by trying to stay happy and positive.”
Speaking directly to her fans, Kaz added: “It may get worse before it gets better. Alopecia is so unpredictable you can’t even keep track, don’t stress yourself measuring your patch everyday. As soon as I stopped measuring and taking pictures I felt a lot lighter in my healing process.”
In light of Kaz’s experience, the Mirror asked two doctors to shed light on the main symptoms and treatments of alopecia. Dr Gareth Nye, lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Salford, is among them, highlighting two types of alopecia to be aware of.
“Alopecia is a general term for any condition which results in hair loss and includes the hair loss associated with chemotherapy for example or natural baldness in men and women,” he explained. “Pathological alopecia is termed alopecia areata which is an autoimmune condition, which means the body begins to attack its own tissue, in this case the hair cells.
“Once the body begins to attack the hair cells they cannot grow back and so once this process has started it is unlikely to be reversed. It can range in its severity and can impact hair on the scalp, eyebrows and eye lashes and body hair to varying degrees.”
Dr Nye believes that around 50% of patients who lose small patches of hair will experience regrowth within the same year. But those who see total hair loss will recover in ‘less than 10% of cases’.
Dr Lawrence Cunningham, a retired GP at Help & Advice, also told the Mirror: “In my experience, it can be quite distressing for those affected, as it often leads to patchy hair loss on the scalp or other parts of the body. The causes of alopecia can vary, including genetic factors, autoimmune disorders, and environmental triggers.
“I’ve seen cases where sudden or chronic stress has triggered or worsened hair loss, highlighting the importance of managing stress effectively. It’s an area where I’ve seen that lifestyle adjustments can make a significant difference.”
Thankfully, there are various treatments available to help individuals suffering from alopecia, including medical injections and natural remedies. Dr Cunningham continued: “There are several treatments available, ranging from corticosteroids to topical immunotherapy.
“In my experience, natural remedies like essential oils and dietary supplements can also play a supportive role, though I always recommend discussing these options with your GP. It’s important to tailor treatments to the individual’s specific type of alopecia and overall health.
“It’s important to address emotional wellbeing alongside physical treatment. Support groups and professional counselling can be invaluable resources for those struggling with self-esteem issues related to hair loss.”
Despite this, Dr Nye also stressed that no therapies ‘work 100% of the time’, so it’s crucial to explore your options. He added: “Triamcinoline injections are used to some success with 50% hair regrowth in 80% of patients. Steroid medications and anti inflammatory drugs have been shown to have limited success in preventing further hair loss.
“Hair transplants are often sought for treatment however, as this condition is an autoimmune disease, the immune system will continue to damage the underlying hair follicles post transplant.”
For further information on alopecia, visit the NHS website.