Coleen Nolan has revealed she has been dealing with a secret health battle triggered by the grief of losing her sister, Linda.
The Loose Women star opened up about the struggle on Tuesday’s episode of the ITV talk show,
where she discussed the severe skin condition that developed following Linda’s passing.
Grief Takes a Toll on Coleen’s Health
During the discussion, which featured panelists Ruth Langsford, Denise Welch, and Janet Street-Porter, the topic of skincare came up.
It was then that Coleen, 59, shared her own personal experience, admitting that her skin had “gone insane” following the loss of her beloved sister.
Denise Welch, recognizing the emotional turmoil Coleen had endured, responded sympathetically, saying, “Well, you’ve had your fair share of stress.”
Coleen then detailed the symptoms she experienced over the holiday season, describing an intense rash that spread across her body. “I got a terrible rash all around my middle, it went up my shoulders. It was so sore and so itchy,” she explained. Despite not having any history of skin conditions, she was left struggling to understand what was happening to her body.
It wasn’t until she visited a dermatologist that she got answers. “Then, obviously, when Linda passed, I went to the dermatologist and he said, ‘Yeah, it’s eczema.’ I was like, ‘I’ve never had eczema in my life!'” she recalled.
The doctor explained that stress is a major trigger for eczema, adding, “The first place that stress shows itself, or any condition, is your skin.”
Honoring Linda’s Memory
The revelation about her health battle comes just weeks after Coleen paid an emotional tribute to Linda on what would have been her 66th birthday. The singer and TV personality took to social media to express how much she misses her sister, writing, “To my beautiful sister… I think of you every day, but especially today on your birthday… I miss you so much, and life won’t be the same without you in it.”
Linda Nolan, who had battled breast cancer for 20 years, tragically passed away on January 15 after also developing double pneumonia. Her funeral, held on February 1 at St. Paul’s Church in Blackpool, was attended by family, friends, and fans who wanted to celebrate her life.
Coleen later spoke about her emotions on the day of the funeral, revealing that she was overwhelmed by the number of people who turned up to pay their respects. “When we turned the corner, there were all these people there, and it made us cry because Linda would have loved it. I was so glad they turned out for her,” she said.
Defending Herself Against Online Criticism
Despite the touching tributes, Coleen faced criticism from online trolls who accused her of smiling too much at Linda’s funeral. Addressing the backlash on Loose Women, she defended herself, saying, “We’ve got to stop judging people on how we deal with grief. And I’ve got to stop caring what other people think.”
She explained that she smiled because there were thousands of people present, many of whom were also smiling in support. “I got out of the funeral car smiling because there were about 2,000 people looking and smiling. And I’m getting slated on social media… ‘What’s she smiling about?’ I’m like, I don’t know what you want me to do!”
At first, the harsh comments upset her, but she has since decided to ignore them, emphasizing that everyone processes grief differently.
A Sisterhood That Spanned Decades
Coleen and Linda shared a close bond, having grown up performing together in the hit group The Nolans alongside their sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, and the late Bernie. The family found fame in the 1970s and became one of the most successful girl groups of their time.
Reflecting on Linda’s final moments, Coleen shared how strong her sister remained until the very end. “Linda battled it for 20 years, and she never gave up. She hated it—hated losing her hair, and she did that four times,” Coleen said tearfully.
She recounted how Linda had been eating and laughing just the day before she passed. Despite doctors predicting she would go quickly, Linda held on for over a day longer than expected. “She still wouldn’t go, I was like, ‘She’s not ready; she wants an encore.’ But yeah, she fought it till the end.”
A Journey Through Grief and Healing
The past few months have been incredibly difficult for Coleen and her family. The impact of losing Linda has been felt deeply, not just emotionally but physically as well, as her unexpected eczema diagnosis shows. However, she remains determined to honor Linda’s memory while navigating her own health challenges.
Through it all, Coleen has demonstrated remarkable resilience, using her platform on Loose Women to share her experiences and remind others that grief affects people in different ways. While the pain of losing her sister will never fully go away, she continues to move forward, holding on to the love and memories they shared.
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