Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has revealed her battle with a secret health condition, triggered by the overwhelming grief following the death of her sister, Linda Nolan.
Speaking candidly on Tuesday’s (February 25) episode of the ITV talk show, the 59 year old shared how the immense emotional strain of losing Linda led to the sudden onset of a painful skin condition she had never experienced before.
Linda courageously battled breast cancer for more than two decades. However, she tragically passed away on January 15, 2024, at the age of 65, after suffering from double pneumonia.
Since then, Coleen has been navigating not only her grief but also the unexpected physical toll it took on her health.
Coleen Nolan reveals secret health condition triggered by losing her sister
During a heartfelt discussion on Loose Women about the importance of skincare, Coleen opened up about her own recent struggles.
She explained how stress and grief had manifested through her skin.
“My skin has gone insane,” Coleen admitted to fellow panelists Ruth Langsford, Denise Welch and Janet Street-Porter.
Denise quickly empathised: “Well, you’ve had your fair share of stress.”
Coleen then detailed the uncomfortable symptoms she faced over the holiday season. “I got a terrible rash all around my middle; it went up my shoulders. It was so sore and so itchy. I was thinking, what is this? It was all over Christmas and New Year.”
Initially baffled by the sudden appearance of the rash, Coleen sought medical advice after Linda’s passing.
“When Linda passed, I went to the dermatologist, and he’s like: ‘Yeah, it’s eczema.'” She was taken aback by the diagnosis. “I was like: ‘I’ve never had eczema in my life!'”
The dermatologist explained that extreme stress often manifests physically, with the skin being one of the first areas affected.
“He said: ‘No, but you’re very stressed. And the first place that stress shows itself, or any condition, is your skin,'” Coleen recounted.
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Coleen pays tribute to Linda Nolan
The revelation came shortly after Coleen publicly paid tribute to Linda on what would have been her 66th birthday.
Taking to social media last week, Coleen shared an emotional message.
“To my beautiful sister… think of you every day, but especially today on your birthday,” she wrote. “I miss you so much, and life won’t be the same without you in it.”
Despite her heartfelt tributes, Coleen has also faced public criticism over her behavior at Linda’s funeral, where she was seen smiling.
Addressing the backlash on Loose Women, she passionately defended herself.
“We’ve got to stop judging people on how we deal with grief,” Coleen said. “And I’ve got to stop caring what other people think.”
Read more: Loose Women panel in chaos as Denise Welch and Janet Street-Porter clash
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