Emmerdale actress Laura Norton, who is best know for her role as Kerry Wyatt on the ITV soap, has opened up about her devastating hair loss struggle after she landed her "dream job".
The 38-year-old soap star said she first noticed her hair "falling out in clumps" when she was just 19 and the process of growing back her tick, shiny dark her was a long one taking almost nine years.
Laura has spoken out about how the condition knocked her confidence just before she accepted the role as Emmerdale's Kerry Wyatt.
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In an interview with New Magazine, Laura bravely opened up about how the synthetic hormones she was taking to tackle her "horrendous periods" kickstarted the hair loss.
She said: "What they never told me was certain pills are testosterone-heavy and attack hair follicles, making hair get thinner and weaker, then fall out."
After joining the cast of the ITV soap the mother-of-one hit an all time low.
Laura added: "I got my dream job playing Kerry Wyatt on Emmerdale and - boom - my hair was falling out in clumps. Thanks universe, great timing! It wasn't great for the old self-esteem."
At her wits end Laura sought professional help and called her local trichologist, at the time she was living in Newcastle.
Trichology is the study of the hair and scalp, a trichologist will examine the hair and scalp to diagnose and recommend treatment for your condition and its severity.
The actress describes her trichologist, Natalie, as her "guardian angel in hair form" as after just sixth months of treatment her iconic dark locks began to grow back.
Laura was also prescribed a 'hair-friendly' version of the pill in replacement of the ones she had previously been on that had affected her hair.
The Emmerdale favourite is sharing her story of hair loss with hopes to spread awareness and ensure others suffering with the same issue know they are "not alone".
Last year Laura welcomed her first child with former co-star and fiancé Mark Jordon.
The pair who met on set began dating when the 56-year-old actor joined the soap as her on-screen brother-in-law Daz Spencer in 2014, they got engaged in 2018.
During her pregnancy Laura's hair did start to fall out again as she was unable to continue with her hair treatment due to the hormonal content.
Thankfully, after the birth of her baby boy Jesse, her hair returned once more.
