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Justin's announcement -

On June 10, 2022, the Grammy-winning pop star took to Instagram to share with his fans the health issues he has been dealing with recently that have forced him to postpone the rest of his Justice World Tour dates.

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Justin's announcement -

In the video, captioned "IMPORTANT PLEASE WATCH. I love you guys and keep me in your prayers," the singer opened up about his diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare affliction that causes facial paralysis.

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Justin's battle -

Bieber went on to explain and demonstrate to the camera that he has lost all movement on the right side of his face. While his right eye still moves along with his left, the right side of his mouth, cheeks, eyelids, and forehead remain motionless for the duration of the announcement video.

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Justin's treatment -

While the singer and his team didn't disclose the specifics of his treatment, besides a vague mention of "facial exercises," Dr. Andre Panossian, a doctor who specializes in facial paralysis but has no personal connection with Bieber, postulated that the singer's treatment most likely involves a regiment of steroids and antiviral medications.

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Justin's treatment -

The pop icon, while understandably distressed, seemed to be optimistic in the video posted to his Instagram. After apologizing to his fans and thanking them for their patience and understanding, Bieber proclaimed, "I have hope... it's gonna be okay." Nine months down the line, his recovery seemed to be well underway. 

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Who else has battled with facial paralysis? -

While Bieber's case is probably the most high-profile incident of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, he isn't the first or the only famous figure to have suffered from the syndrome or similar facial paralysis ailments. Pictured is retired Canadian politician Olivia Chow, who was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2.

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Angelina Jolie -

Angelina Jolie announced in 2016 that she had been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition related to Ramsey Hunt syndrome that also causes facial paralysis. Thankfully, Jolie made a full recovery, a success she has attributed to her use of acupuncture.

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George Clooney -

George Clooney opened up about his battle with facial paralysis, saying it occurred at a "bad time," when Clooney was 14 years old, going into his freshman year of high school. Clooney was able to make a full recovery within nine months.

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Katie Holmes -

Katie Holmes suffered from Bell's palsy when she was young. It is widely believed that the actress' trademark smirk is a residual effect of Holmes' struggle with the condition.

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Pierce Brosnan -

Pierce Brosnan battled with facial paralysis during the 1980s. Thankfully, his symptoms were caught early enough, and a thorough round of steroid treatment relieved Brosnan of his malady within weeks.

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Sylvester Stallone -

Sylvester Stallone has dealt with facial paralysis to varying degrees for his whole life, due to complications during his birth. Some of the actor's defining characteristics, such as his endearingly crooked smile and his slurred inflection, are all caused by his battle with persistent paralysis.

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What exactly is Ramsay Hunt syndrome? -

Ramsay Hunt syndrome, while very similar symptomatically to Bell's palsy, is much rarer and can be much more serious if left untreated. Ramsay Hunt syndrome appears when nerve endings associated with facial muscles become inflamed.

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How many people are diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome annually? -

Thankfully, Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a relatively rare affliction. According to the patient advocacy group NORD, five out of 100,000 people in the United States develop the syndrome annually. Justin Bieber's case is extremely rare, as the vast majority of Ramsay Hunt syndrome victims are above the age of 60.

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Is it fatal? -

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is not a fatal condition. While the syndrome may become chronic if not caught in time and the affected nerves are damaged beyond repair, Ramsay Hunt syndrome poses no life-threatening danger.

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What treatments are there? -

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is treated in generally the same way as chickenpox or shingles, if not with more intensity and urgency. Antiviral medications like acyclovir are commonly prescribed as the primary treatment.

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What treatments are there? -

If a medical professional thinks it's necessary, antiviral medications may be paired with steroids and corticosteroids like prednisone. Additionally, painkillers and antihistamines may also be prescribed to address any pain or side effects caused by the syndrome.

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What causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome? -

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by a virus known as the varicella-zoster virus. This virus, which is thought to have originated in Europe, is more common than one might think.

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What causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome? -

If a person is infected with the varicella-zoster virus as a child, it never actually leaves the body, but instead simply lays dormant. If given the opportunity, usually caused by high levels of stress in the carrier individual, varicella-zoster can rear its ugly head once more, sometimes in the form of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

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What else is the varicella-zoster virus responsible for? -

Most people's first and only run-in with the varicella-zoster virus is in the form of chickenpox. Chickenpox is fairly common in children, and while it used to have a frighteningly high death rate, those rates have come down to almost zero in most places thanks to vaccines.

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What else is the varicella-zoster virus responsible for? -

Later in life, the dormant varicella-zoster virus comes back as shingles far more often than it comes back as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This is usually caused by a weakened immune system, commonly triggered by stress. Antiviral medicines and topical ointments can treat a case of shingles with minimal effort or margin of error.

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When was Ramsay Hunt syndrome discovered? -

History on the syndrome is hard to come by, but we do know that it was named after a neurologist from Pennsylvania, Ramsay Hunt, who was the first to describe the condition in detail sometime in the 1920s after he had graduated from Cornell University.

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What are the symptoms? -

While the most outwardly noticeable and obvious symptom of Ramsay Hunt syndrome is facial paralysis, pinched and inflamed nerve endings close to or associated with the face can have many other undesirable effects.

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Tinnitus -

Ramsay Hunt syndrome usually manifests on just one side of the face, near the ear. Close by nerve endings associated with the ear and hearing functions can also be affected, causing ear pain and tinnitus.

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Vertigo -

Since our ears and their inner workings are important not just for hearing but also for helping us keep our balance, vertigo, dizziness, and a feeling of instability are also common effects of inflamed nerves.

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Change or loss of taste -

In rare cases, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can also cause one's perception of taste to change. Sometimes things simply taste different (usually worse), but in other cases people suffering from the syndrome can lose their sense of taste entirely.

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Ear rash -

The other most obvious and outwardly visible symptom of Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a shingles rash in and around the ear. These rashes can be itchy and painful. While the rashes are extremely common, there have been cases of the syndrome where no rash or itchiness is detected.

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Trouble closing one eye -

A side effect of facial paralysis that might not be obvious, but is certainly important, is the loss of control over one's eyelid on the afflicted side of the face. This can understandably become one of the most challenging aspects of the syndrome, and may lead to sleep issues.

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Dryness of the eye -

Another problem with not being able to control the eyelid is that anyone with this symptom will lose out on the hydration and lubrication that eyelids bring to the eyes. This can cause the eye on the afflicted side of the face to become dry and irritated.

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Does Ramsay Hunt syndrome go away? -

Doctors agree that if treatment for Ramsay Hunt syndrome begins within three days of the start of symptoms, the chances of recovery are extremely high. However, the longer that the symptoms go untreated, the higher the chance of the syndrome causing permanent nerve damage, and thus permanent facial paralysis.

Sources: (E! News) (National Organization for Rare Diseases)

See also: Stars who suffer from chronic illnesses

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