Canadian singer Justin Bieber announced this Friday the reason why he has canceled some of his scheduled shows: he suffers from a health condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which has caused partial paralysis of his face.
In a video posted on Instagram showing the immobility on the left side of his face, Biebier said pointing to the affected area: "As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can't smile on this side of my face. This nostril doesn't move. So there's total paralysis on this side."
But what is Ramsey Hunt syndrome and what are its causes and potential complications?
The syndrome is defined by the specialized website MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine of the United States as "a painful rash around the ear, on the face or in the mouth" and occurs when the varicella-zoster virus (shingles) infects a nerve in the head.
After the disappearance of chickenpox, the virus continues to live in the nerves and when it reactivates it can impact the face.
In people with the syndrome, this virus is thought to infect the facial nerve near the inner ear, leading to irritation and swelling of the nerve, according to MedlinePlus.
The disorder mainly affects adults and is only rarely seen in children.
[The new slimming drugs are very effective. Why aren't they widely used?]
In his video, Bieber described it as a "virus attacking my ear nerve and my facial nerves and causing paralysis in my face."
Justin Bieber attends the 64th GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.FilmMagic
The artist assured that he plans to use the time of his recovery to rest and relax.
He said he has been doing facial exercises to help his face "get back to normal."
"I have to go rest to get my face back to where it's supposed to be. I love you guys, thanks for being patient with me. I'm going to get better," he said.
In February, Bieber tested positive for the coronavirus.
His wife, model Hailey Bieber, recently revealed that she required medical attention in March after presenting a small blood clot in the brain.
With information from
NBC News