Ricki Lake opens up about 'debilitating' hair loss: 'It was my secret'

By Nicole Pelletiere

Former talk show host and actor Ricki Lake is embracing her own beauty after revealing to fans that she's been experiencing hair loss for nearly 30 years.

In an exclusive interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Lake opened up just days after sharing on social media that the condition has been "debilitating, embarrassing, painful, scary, depressing, [and] lonely," though she never discussed it openly.

"This was personal. I'm overwhelmed by the reaction," Lake said Friday on "GMA." "I was really scared people were going to say mean things."

Former talk show host Ricki Lake tells "Good Morning America," on Jan. 3, 2020, she has been struggling with hair loss for nearly 30 years.

"This has been something that has plagued me for so, so long. It was my secret, and I'm an open book," she added. "You guys grew up with me -- I wear everything on my sleeve. I've talked extensively about my husband who died by suicide almost three years ago -- I have shared, I'm an over-share-er. I was just at the end of my rope; it had gotten too difficult to manage." 

Taking to Facebook Jan. 1, Lake, who took third place in the 13th season of "Dancing With the Stars," explained that when she starred in "Hairspray" in 1988, her hair was damaged to the point of no return.

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Liberated and Free, Me. First things first, I am not sick. (THANK GOD.) I am not having a mid-life crisis. nor am I having a mental breakdown, though I have been suffering. Suffering mostly in silence off and on for almost 30 years. AND I am finally ready to share my secret. Deep breath Ricki…. Here goes….. I have been struggling with hair loss for most of my adult life. It has been debilitating, embarrassing, painful, scary, depressing, lonely, all the things. There have been a few times where I have even felt suicidal over it. Almost no one in my life knew the level of deep pain and trauma I was experiencing. Not even my therapist/s over the years knew my truth. I know that by sharing my truth, I will be striking a chord with so so many women and men. I am not alone in this and my goal is to help others while at the same time unshackle myself from this quiet hell I have been living in. Ever since I played Tracy Turnblad in the original Hairspray back in 1988 and they triple-processed and teased my then healthy virgin hair every 2 weeks during filming, my hair was never the same. (Yes, that was all my own hair in the film.) From Hairspray to Hairless. :( In my case, I believe my hair loss was due to many factors, yo-yo dieting, hormonal birth control, radical weight fluctuations over the years, my pregnancies, genetics, stress, and hair dyes and extensions. Working as talent on various shows and movies, whether DWTS or my talk show, also took its toll on my fine hair. I got used to wearing extensions, really just over the last decade. All different kinds, tried them all, the ones that are glued on, the tape-ins, the clip ins, and then into a total hair system that I hated, and finally to a unique solution that really did work pretty well for me for the last 4 or 5 years. I tried wigs on a few occasions but never could get used to them. It all felt fake and I was super self-conscious and uncomfortable. I've been to many doctors, gotten steroid shots in my head, taking all the supplements and then some. My hair would recover and then shed again. It was maddening. To read more: please go to my Facebook page. ❤️

A post shared by Ricki Lake (@rickilake) on Jan 1, 2020 at 11:25am PST

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Ricki Lake backstage during "X Factor Celebrity" on Nov. 16, 2019 in London.

The 51-year-old told Roberts she also blames her career as a public figure, hormones, crash dieting, weight fluctuations and genetics for the hair loss.

Lake said she tried a hair treatment and wore hair extensions as remedies.

"I've been to many doctors, gotten steroid shots in my head, taking all the supplements and then some," Lake wrote on Facebook. "My hair would recover and then shed again. It was maddening. I got used to wearing extensions, really just over the last decade. All different kinds, tried them all, the ones that are glued on, the tape-ins, the clip ins, and then into a total hair system that I hated, and finally to a unique solution that really did work pretty well for me for the last 4 or 5 years. I tried wigs on a few occasions but never could get used to them. It all felt fake and I was super self-conscious and uncomfortable."

Former talk show host Ricki Lake tells "Good Morning America," on Jan. 3, 2020, she has been struggling with hair loss for nearly 30 years.

“I feel like I can finally be truly me.” We sit down one-on-one with actress @RickiLake as she opens up about her 30 year battle with hair loss. https://t.co/OQIlP5GkoJ pic.twitter.com/12sUYNzPf3

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 3, 2020

Lake appeared on "GMA" wearing no wig or extentions.

"I feel like I can finally be truly me," she noted. "Actually... I don't think I look that bad!"

Former talk show host Ricki Lake tells "Good Morning America," on Jan. 3, 2020, she has been struggling with hair loss for nearly 30 years.

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Ricky Lake attends a screening of "Hairspray" on Nov. 25, 2019 in London.

Lake's courage to share her struggle inspired women who also experience hair loss to share their selfies.

"Your courage has set so many women free today, and for that I say, thank you," one woman wrote.

"Thank you for being honest and showing beauty in vulnerability," said another.

"I'm holding my head up high," Lake said on "GMA." "I've never been prouder of myself and I'm really touched by the reaction and the fact that I can help others through this process."

VIDEO: Ricki Lake opens up about secret struggle with hair loss

Today, Lake is working on a new documentary about birth control and hopes to write a book about her hair journey.