TV star Kaz Crossley is gearing up to hit our screens once more in this year’s Love Island All Stars, joining the likes of Gabby Allen and Curtis Pritchard. The 29-year-old first shot to fame back in 2018, securing a third-place finish with her then-beau Josh Denzel.
Yet, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the Londoner. She’s previously opened up about battling an ‘unpredictable’ health condition that at times plunged her into deep sadness.
This condition in question is alopecia, a term used to describe sudden hair loss on the face, body or scalp. In 2023, Kaz suggested that stress was the primary trigger for her alopecia, although 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.”
Addressing her followers, 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.”
Following Kaz’s personal journey with alopecia, the Mirror consulted two medical experts to provide insights into the symptoms and treatments of the condition. Dr Gareth Nye, a lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Salford, was among them.
“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 noted that while about 50% of individuals who lose small patches of hair might see regrowth within a year, those experiencing total hair loss 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.”
Fortunately, there’s a spectrum of treatments available to aid individuals grappling with 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.”
However, Dr Nye emphasised that no treatments ‘work 100% of the time’, so it’s vital to consider all available 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.