Supermodel Bella Hadid shared photos from a hospital bed on Instagram on September 17, 2025, sparking concern among fans. The 28-year-old has been open for years about her battle with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection she was diagnosed with in 2012.
In her post, Hadid did not specify the reason for her recent hospital stay. She captioned the update, “I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys,” expressing gratitude for the support she receives. The images showed her resting with a crochet angel, enjoying pizza, admiring a sunset and rainbow from her hospital window, and spending time with family and friends who visited her. A final picture showed her in an elevator holding a coffee cup with wet hair.
The study Lyme Disease by Skar, Blum, and Simonsen (StatPearls, 2024) explains that Lyme disease also called Lyme borreliosis—is described as a tick-borne infection mainly caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States, and by B. afzelii and B. garinii in Europe and Asia. It develops in three stages: early localized, early disseminated, and late. 1
Early symptoms often include erythema migrans (a “bull’s-eye” rash), fever, fatigue, joint pain, and headache. If untreated, it can progress to severe neurological, cardiac, or rheumatologic complications. The authors emphasize that early antibiotic therapy is crucial for preventing long-term consequences and improving patient outcomes.
The guide Tick Bites (2021) from National Library of Medicine explains that most tick bites cause only mild redness and itching that disappears after a few days.
The main sign to watch for is a spreading circular rash larger than five centimeters, often referred to as a “bull’s-eye rash” or erythema migrans. This rash, which can appear days to weeks later, may signal early Lyme disease. Early recognition is important for timely diagnosis and treatment. 2
Hadid has previously spoken about her experience managing Lyme disease. In August 2023, she reflected on completing over 100 days of treatment for Lyme, chronic illness, and co-infections, writing, “The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself🫶🏼,” and noting that she felt “finally healthy” at that time.
References
1. Skar, George L., Matthew A. Blum, and Kristin A. Simonsen. Lyme Disease. In StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, January 2025–. Updated October 1, 2024. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431066/#:~:text=Lyme%20disease%2C%20also%20known%20as,species%20in%20Europe%20and%20Asia.
2. InformedHealth.org. Tick Bites: Learn More – Lyme Disease. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Last updated September 16, 2021. NCBI Bookshelf, National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279242/
(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)